Effect of different soil tillage and weed-control methods in a potato field experiment on soil physical properties and the content of plant availablemicro-elements in the soil

The work refers to the influence of different methods of soil tillage and w eed-control on soil and subsoil physical properties and on the content of p lant-available forms of microelements in the soil. Results were gathered in a field experiment, carried out from 1997-1999. The experiment had two aspects: three methods of soil tillage (conventional , autumn intensive and simplified soil tillage) and three methods of weed c ontrol in potatoes (mechanical-chemical, mechanical and chemical) were stud ied. According to the investigations, it can be stated that: modifications in soil tillage methods and type of applied cultivation did not change soil density. Soil tillage methods and weed control differentiated soil volume density, pH and organic carbon. They also influenced significantly the cont ent of iron, zinc and copper in the soil. Zinc and copper were independent of the weed control method used.