Аgrophysical state of podzolized chernozem in agrocoenosis during the different types of transition to no-till technology

Abstract

Aim. To scientifically substantiate the significance of the transition period after the abandonment of plowing and the transition to the No-till system for changing the agrophysical conditions of fertility, as the basis for optimizing the regime of moistening of chernozem of podzolized highly regraded low-humus soil in a 5-fold grain rotation for the conditions of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, agrochemical (selection of samples and determination of total humus, structure density, structural state, in the 0-30 cm layer of the soil, productive moisture reserves of a meter thick, statistical and calculation (to justify the reliability of the obtained results and develop statistical models of relationships).. The research was carried out in a stationary field experiment of the Cherkasy State Agricultural Research Station of the NSC “Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences”. Results. When abandoning plowing per unit increase in the density of the structure, the optimization of the ratio of gaps occupied by moisture to air (1 to 1) increases under No-till systems by plowing in 1.81 times, for surface tillage - 1.98 times, and for No-till systems for surface tillage - 2.68 times. Implementation of the No-till system for surface tillage formed an average reserve of productive moisture in the crop rotation at the level of 154 mm, which was at the level of stock on plowing and significantly higher than under systematic surface cultivation. Deviation from the average o the value of the moisture reserve under the component crops was the lowest compared to systematic plowing, the No-till system after plowing and surface treatment and systematic surface treatment, which is associated with the optimization of the agrophysical properties of the 0-30 cm soil layer and the presence of a layer of plant mulch on the soil surface from predecessors. Conclusions. When switching to the No-till system in a 5-field grain rotation, it is necessary to apply a transition period with soil-protective shallow tillage, which in 5 years helps to overcome the manifestation of agrophysical degradation of podzolized chernozem due to the reproduction of the humus, structural state and water resistance of the structure, will ensure the achievement of an equilibrium state of density structures, the most optimal ratio of the volume of cracks occupied by moisture to air, which will provide a mechanism for regulating the consumption of the productive moisture reserve for physical evaporation compared to systematic plowing and the No-till system for plowing where the manifestation of agrophysical degradation remains at a high level.