Soil Science Society of America Journal · 2026
Enhancing soil health through no‐till, cover crops, and compost: A 5‐year field study
Růžička, D., Dvořáčková, H., Vavříková, J., Klem, K., Záhora, J., Patra, S.
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Enhancing soil health through no‐till, cover crops, and comp…
Abstract
The capacity of soil management systems to conserve and promote soil health is crucial for its sustainability. While the effects of individual soil management practices on soil health receive considerable attention, their combined effects remain understudied. This paper presents the results of a 5‐year field experiment designed to evaluate the impact of implementing adaptation technology (AT; combining no tillage [no‐till] and species‐rich cover crops) and compost application (c) on selected soil properties compared to conventional technology (CT; ploughed, without cover crops). The field experiment was conducted on extensively managed arable land (Gleyic Cambisol) in the temperate climate of the Czech Republic. After 5 years, AT alone did not lead to significant improvements in most soil properties. However, the combination of AT with compost application (ATc) significantly increased soil organic carbon stocks in the top 15 cm compared to the control (CT) (22.91 ± 2.10 vs. 16.78 ± 3.06 Mg ha −1 , respectively). Additionally, ATc increased soil pH, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and available P, K, and Mg relative to CT, although these effects were inconsistent across the years and confined to the top 15 cm of soil. Our findings suggest that integrating soil health‐promoting agricultural practices such as no‐till, species‐rich cover crop mixtures, and compost application can amplify their positive effects on soil health. While further research is needed, this study highlights the potential for improving soil health through holistic solutions that synergistically combine the partial impact of individual practices.
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The capacity of soil management systems to conserve and promote soil health is crucial for its sustainability. While the effects of individual soil management practices on soil health receive considerable attention, their combined effects remain understudied. This paper presents the results of a 5‐year field experiment designed to evaluate the impact of implementing adaptation technology (AT; combining no tillage [no‐till] and species‐rich cover crops) and compost application (c) on selected soil properties compared to conventional technology (CT; ploughed, without cover crops). The field experiment was conducted on extensively managed arable land (Gleyic Cambisol) in the temperate climate of the Czech Republic. After 5 years, AT alone did not lead to significant improvements in most soil properties. However, the combination of AT with compost application (ATc) significantly increased soil organic carbon stocks in the top 15 cm compared to the control (CT) (22.91 ± 2.10 vs. 16.78 ± 3.06 Mg ha −1 , respectively). Additionally, ATc increased soil pH, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and available P, K, and Mg relative to CT, although these effects were inconsistent across the years and confined to the top 15 cm of soil. Our findings suggest that integrating soil health‐promoting agricultural practices such as no‐till, species‐rich cover crop mixtures, and compost application can amplify their positive effects on soil health. While further research is needed, this study highlights the potential for improving soil health through holistic solutions that synergistically combine the partial impact of individual practices.
The capacity of soil management systems to conserve and promote soil health is crucial for its sustainability. While the effects of individual soil management practices on soil health receive considerable attention, their combined effects remain understudied. This paper presents the results of a 5‐year field experiment designed to evaluate the impact of implementing adaptation technology (AT; combining no tillage [no‐till] and species‐rich cover crops) and compost application (c) on selected soil properties compared to conventional technology (CT; ploughed, without cover crops). The field experiment was conducted on extensively managed arable land (Gleyic Cambisol) in the temperate climate of the Czech Republic. After 5 years, AT alone did not lead to significant improvements in most soil properties. However, the combination of AT with compost application (ATc) significantly increased soil organic carbon stocks in the top 15 cm compared to the control (CT) (22.91 ± 2.10 vs. 16.78 ± 3.06 Mg ha −1 , respectively). Additionally, ATc increased soil pH, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and available P, K, and Mg relative to CT, although these effects were inconsistent across the years and confined to the top 15 cm of soil. Our findings suggest that integrating soil health‐promoting agricultural practices such as no‐till, species‐rich cover crop mixtures, and compost application can amplify their positive effects on soil health. While further research is needed, this study highlights the potential for improving soil health through holistic solutions that synergistically combine the partial impact of individual practices.
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