Review of Root–Stubble Characteristics and Root–Stubble Crushing and Clearing Technologies for Conservation Tillage

Abstract

Conservation tillage (CT) is an agricultural technology for sustainable soil use, and clearing the root–stubble remaining in the seedbed and nursery bed is a core aspect of CT. In this paper, the characteristics and the testing methods of roots stubble and their growth environments were reviewed, which could provide a reference for the setting of parameters in numerical simulations and the design of stubble treatment devices. The methods for the restoration of the environment in CT are described. Moreover, the root–stubble crushing and clearing technologies and the methods for the evaluation of device performance are summarized. Furthermore, the prospects for the physical properties of the roots stubble soil, the reduction of soil adhesion when a cutter crushes the roots, the tracking of the long-term effects of different methods on soil, intelligent devices for the crushing of roots stubble, and challenges and strategies regarding the application of new root–stubble crushing and clearing technologies are discussed. This paper provides a reference for the development of devices for the crushing of roots stubble from the perspective of CT.