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RESEARCH PAPER
Effects of tillage, cover crop management and nitrogen fertilisation on soil physical properties in spring barley
1
Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 24A Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
2
Research and Development, DLF Beet Seed ApS, Højbygårdvej 31, 4960 Holeby, Denmark
3
Department of Herbology and Plant Cultivation Techniques, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Final revision date: 2026-05-19
Acceptance date: 2026-06-08
Publication date: 2026-07-10
Corresponding author
Roman Wacławowicz
Instytut Agroekologii i Produkcji Roślinnej, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24A, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
Instytut Agroekologii i Produkcji Roślinnej, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq. 24A, 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
Int. Agrophys. 2026, 40(4): 367-378
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cover crops show seasonal effects: early destabilization then later improvement
- Nitrogen fertilization has limited impact on soil physical properties
- Tillage–cover crop treatments mainly shape soil physical properties
- Penetration resistance–porosity links drive tillage–cover crop effects
- No-tillage raises resistance; reduced/no-tillage enhance aggregate stability
KEYWORDS
tillagecover crop managementnitrogen fertilisationsoil physical propertiesaggregate stabilityspring barley
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Agricultural intensification often degrades soil physical properties; therefore, this study evaluated the effects of tillage, white mustard cover crop management, and nitrogen fertilisation on selected soil physical properties in spring barley. A three-year split-plot field experiment on Haplic Chernozem included four tillage and cover crop management treatments (conventional ploughing without a cover crop and conventional, reduced, and no-tillage with a cover crop) and three nitrogen rates (40, 80, 120 kg N ha-1). Soil moisture, total and capillary poro-sity, penetration resistance, and aggregate stability were measured at two dates and in two soil layers. Experimental effects were assessed using analysis of variance, while relationships among properties were examined by correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Tillage and cover crop management was the main factor differentiating soil physical properties, whereas nitrogen effects were limited. No-tillage increased penetration resistance and reduced porosity early in the season, while reduced and no-tillage treatments enhanced aggregate stability later in the season. Cover crop effects were seasonal, initially destabilising and later improving aggregate stability. PCA indicated that the relationship between penetration resistance and porosity was the principal mechanism differentiating tillage and cover crop management treatments, and that treatments including a cover crop modified the interrelationships among penetration resistance, porosity, and aggregate stability, shaping the seasonal dynamics of soil physical functioning.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Research concept and design: R.W.; collection and/or assembly of data: M.G., P.K., and A.L.-S.; data analysis and interpretation: R.W., M.G., D.G., and S.A.; writing the article: R.W., M.G., P.K., and A.L.-S.; critical revision of the article: R.W., P.K., D.G., and S.A.; final approval of the article: all authors. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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