Effect of Zero and Minimum Tillage on Cotton Productivity and Soil Characteristics under Different Nitrogen Application Rates

Niamat Ullah Khan,Muhammad Arif Goheer,Talha Javed,Rubab Shabbir,Saddam Hussain,Sunny Ahmar,Ali Raza,Maliha Naz,Freddy Mora-Poblete,Izwa Shafique,Aftab Ahmad Khan,Sadam Hussain,Qasim Ali,Hayssam M Ali,Manzer H Siddiqui,Faisal Zulfiqar

doi:10.3390/su132413753

Abstract

Long-term conservation tillage and straw incorporation are reported to improve the soil health, growth, and yield traits of crops; however, little is known regarding the optimal nitrogen (N) supply under conservation tillage with straw incorporation. The present study evaluated the effects of conservation tillage practices (ZTsas: zero tillage plus wheat straw on the soil surface as such, and MTsi: minimum tillage plus wheat straw incorporated) and different N application rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) on the yield and quality traits of cotton and soil characteristics in a five-year field experiment. The results showed that ZTsas produced a higher number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, 100-seed weight, ginning out-turn (GOT), fiber length, and strength than MTsi. Among different N application rates, the maximum number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, GOT, 100-seed weight, fiber length, strength, and micronaire were recorded at 150 kg N ha−1. Averaged over the years, tillage × N revealed that ZTsas had a higher boll number plant−1, boll weight, 100-seed weight, GOT, fiber length, and strength with N application at 150 kg ha−1, as compared to other tillage systems. Based on the statistical results, there is no significant difference in total soil N and soil organic matter among different N rates. Further, compared to MTsi, ZTsas recorded higher soil organic matter (SOM, 8%), total soil N (TSN, 29%), water-stable aggregates (WSA, 8%), and mean weight diameter (MWD, 28.5%), particularly when the N application of 150 kg ha−1. The fiber fineness showed that ZTsas had no adverse impact on fiber fineness compared with MTsi. These results indicate that ZTsas with 150 kg N ha−1 may be the optimum and most sustainable approach to improve cotton yield and soil quality in the wheat–cotton system.

Highlights

Residue accumulation in the soil acts as mulch, which protects the soil from soil aggregate destruction, enhances infiltration of water, and reduces soil losses by erosion [9,10].In addition to increasing the infiltration rate, straw incorporation into the soil can increase the water retention of the soil [11]
Under the interaction of T × N, the maximum bolls plant−1 and boll weight were obtained in ZTsas with the N application rate of 150 kg N ha−1
This study showed that not all the conservation tillage practices are effective in improving the total soil N (TSN) and soil organic matter (SOM)

Summary

Introduction

In addition to increasing the infiltration rate, straw incorporation into the soil can increase the water retention of the soil [11]. It is an important organic source for retaining and improving soil fertility [1]. Residue retention/incorporation into the soil is an important management method to handle crop residues [7,12]. The retention/incorporation of wheat residues may affect the soil fertility, soil physico-chemical properties, and yield of the crop [13]. The incorporation of crop residues improves the soil nutrient status and facilitates better growth and development of crops

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion