Use of Vegetable Residues and Cover Crops in the Cultivation of Maize Grown in Different Tillage Systems

Abstract

The purpose of research on alternative variants of soil tillage systems related to fertilization, vegetal residues, and cover crops, in the case of the maize crop, is to elaborate and promote certain integrated technologies on conservation agriculture. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in the Transylvanian Plain during 2019–2021, regarding the influence of certain technological and climatic factors on the yield and quality of maize. The objective of the research was to focus on how vegetable residues and cover crops can be integrated into the optimization of the fertilization system of conservation agriculture. A multifactorial experiment was carried out based on the formula A × B × C × D − R: 4 × 2 × 3 × 3 − 2, where A represents the soil tillage system (a1 conventional tillage with moldboard plow; a2 minimum tillage with chisel; a3 minimum tillage with disk; a4 no tillage); B represents the maize hybrid (b1 Turda 332; b2 Turda 344); C represents the vegetable residues and cover crops (c1 vegetable residues 2.5 t ha−1 + 350 kg ha−1 NPK; c2 vegetable residues 2.5 t ha−1 + cover crops mustard; c3 vegetable residues 2.5 t ha−1 + gulle 10 t ha−1); D represents the year (d1 2019; d2 2020; d3 2021); and R represents the replicates. The results emphasized the fact that for the soil conditions from the area taken into account (Chernozem), for maize, a minimum tillage with chisel during autumn + disk harrow in spring + sowing can be considered as an alternative to the conventional tillage system. Yield and quality of maize can be improved and optimized by combined fertilization: vegetable residues and cover crops being supported with different sources of mineral NPK.