Abstract
In this study, the processes of wheat residue degradation in combination with various tillage treatments were explored to determine the ideal management prescription for maximizing canola crop production. A field experiment within a western Canadian context (near Saint-Front, Saskatchewan), consisting of a 2 × 3 factorial design, was conducted to determine the fate of crop residue under different harvest and treatment scenarios. ATR-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, FTIR spectromicroscopy, and synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging (SR-XFI) were used to explore wheat residue degradation mechanisms. The results indicated maximum canola yields and residue degradation occurred in combination with a combine outfitted with an aftermarket chopper and post-harvest treatment by harrow. Crop residue degradation was attributed to cellulose/linen hydrolysis and supramolecular structure changes from high crystalline to amorphous cellulose. Multi-element loss usually accompanied crop residue degradation. An important aspect of this study is the adoption of field-scale analysis to accurately portray real-world sustainable management techniques within a western Canadian context. The findings provided an optimal combination of crop residue treatment and tillage treatment to increase canola production, which had the potential ability to be applied in other countries. It is also an initial attempt to develop a technical composite of FTIR spectromicroscopy and SR-XFI for examining the mechanism of residue decomposition.
Highlights
This study demonstrated the optimal treatment with the maximum canola crop production and the evaluation of wheat residue decomposition using different residue management systems and tillage treatments
An aftermarket chopper for residue treatment combined with soil harrow was identified as the optimal treatment for one-year data for our hypothesis, because it had the highest canola yields and the highest crop residue degradation rate
Multi-element loss accompanied by crop residue degradation was the main possible contributor to soil microorganisms revealed by synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging (SRXFI)
Summary
Crop residue management (CRM) is defined as leaving last season’s crop residues on the soil surface after harvest; before and during the planting, these residues provide cover for the soil [1]. Crop residues after proper treatments can be sources of nutrients for successful crops and improved soil, water, and air quality [2]. In a crop rotation system, crop residue produces substantial long-term benefits that likely outweigh any short-term gains associated with post-harvest tillage practices [3]. Managing crop residues in agriculture can be economically beneficial to producers and environmentally important to society [4]
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