Influence of the No-till Technology on the Bulk Density of the Calcic Cherrnozem of the Volgograd Region

Abstract

Background: Technologies for the cultivation of agricultural plants have positive and negative sides. The indisputable positive features of No-till technology include the elimination of the cost of fuel needed for tillage. The negative aspects potentially include an increase in soil density, leading to a deterioration in plant nutrition. This article presents research materials on the impact of crop cultivation technologies on the physical properties of soils. The authors study in detail the issue of changes in the soil bulk density index depending on the applied agricultural technology in comparison with the treated soil as a control. It is important to note that the study of the features of the use of agricultural technologies has a pronounced zonal aspect. The object of study is represented by the soil cover of an agricultural landscape located in the steppe zone of the Volgograd region. The soil cover of the study area is represented by Calcic Cherrnozem. No-till technology has been used in this agricultural landscape for 9 years. Methods: The changes in the soil bulk density index depending on the applied agricultural technique was studied in detail in comparison with the treated soil as a control variant. The study considered three options: a) no-till tillage, b) traditional tillage technology, c) soil covered with natural vegetation. Determination of the density of soil composition was carried out by the cutting ring method. Under field conditions, soil samples were taken from pits and analysis was carried out in laboratory. Result: The results revealed that soil compaction was occurred in no-till technologe. The bulk density of 10-20 cm soil layer was 1.33 g cm3 under no-till? 0.81 g cm3 under traditional technology and 1.14 g cm3 under natural vegetation.