Impact of No-Till technology and winter wheat precursors on soil fertility in arid conditions of Stavropol territory

Abstract

At present, agricultural production of the region faces the main task – to ensure further growth and greater production stability of winter wheat. The new No-till technology for the arid zone of Stavropol Territory is an optimal option within the system of resource-saving technologies. Its application in the peasant farm Vodopyanov S.S. in the conditions of dark chestnut soil became possible with the introduction of a scientifically valid system of farming and sufficient availability of equipment, fertilizers and pesticides at the enterprise. The study of the effect of the No-till technology and precursors on agrophysical and agrochemical properties of dark chestnut soil in the arid zone showed that the winter wheat crops have the largest amount of productive moisture reserve in the upper layer (0.0–0.20 m) during the booting stage of winter wheat for sunflower and winter rape. The largest amount of agronomically valuable aggregates is noted in winter wheat crops in the booting stage for sunflower, and to the blooming stage it increases for all precursors. The soil density of winter wheat crops increases down the layers. The number of water-stable aggregates increases to the firm ripe stage. As nitrogen consumption by plants increases, the amount of nitrate in the soil decreases and reaches its minimum by the firm ripe stage. The maximum concentration of labile phosphorus in the soil is observed during the initial sampling period. Regardless of the precursor, there is a tendency to pH decrease. There is a decrease in humus and mobile sulfur down the soil layers. In general, the No-till technology and precursors affect the reduction of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soil.