Conventional Tillage Treatments Research Articles

Influence of the Long-Term Application of Management Practices (Tillage, Cover Crop and Glyphosate) on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Physical Properties

Soil treatments have a significant influence on the agricultural and environmental productivity of agricultural practices. Arable lands are one of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that are influenced by the chemical and physical properties of the soil and are an essential contributor to climate change. We aim to evaluate the long-term management of agricultural practices, such as different tillage systems, cover crops, and glyphosate, on GHG emissions and soil physical properties. The field trial involved three tillage systems (conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT)), along with variations in cover cropping (with and without cover crops) and glyphosate application (with and without glyphosate). These treatments were implemented during the cultivation of oilseed rape in 2022 as part of a cropping sequence consisting of five crops: winter wheat; winter oilseed rape; spring wheat; spring barley; and field pea. Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)) were directly measured using a closed static chamber system. Through the examination of these management techniques, the soil’s physical properties over the studied period were assessed for their impact on GHG fluxes. The findings of the study reveal that N2O emissions were relatively low during the first month of measurement, with significant differences (p < 0.05) observed in the interaction between cover crop and glyphosate treatments. Additionally, N2O emissions were notably elevated in the reduced (0.079 µg m−2 h−1) and conventional tillage (0.097 µg m−2 h−1) treatments at the second month of measurement. Regarding CH4, increased emissions were observed in the reduced tillage and cover crop treatments. CO2 emissions exhibited variability across all of the investigated treatments. Notably, GHG fluxes spiked at the second measurement, signifying the maximum uptake of nutrients by the main plants during the growth phase. Greenhouse gas emissions leveled off across all of the treatments following the harvest, marking the end of the cultivation period. The influence of the deployed techniques varied across the determined physical parameters of the soil. The incorporation of cover crops contributed to improved water content and, further, to electrical conductivity. Glyphosate use showed no direct impact on physical properties of the soil while the different tillage treatments had varying effects on the distribution of the physical properties of the soil with respect to the degree of disturbance or tillage-induced changes. Additionally, GHG emissions were strongly correlated with precipitation at one week and two weeks before sampling, except for CO2, which showed a weaker correlation at two weeks before GHG sampling. The findings indicate that reduced and conventional tillage methods might adversely affect greenhouse gas emissions and plant functionality, particularly concerning nutrient release and uptake, especially in temperate climate conditions.

Mulch application as the overarching factor explaining increase in soil organic carbon stocks under conservation agriculture in two 8-year-old experiments in Zimbabwe

Abstract. Conservation agriculture (CA), combining reduced or no tillage, permanent soil cover, and improved rotations, is often promoted as a climate-smart practice. However, our understanding of the impact of CA and its respective three principles on top- and subsoil organic carbon stocks in the low-input cropping systems of sub-Saharan Africa is rather limited. This study was conducted at two long-term experimental sites established in Zimbabwe in 2013. The soil types were abruptic Lixisols at Domboshava Training Centre (DTC) and xanthic Ferralsol at the University of Zimbabwe farm (UZF). The following six treatments, which were replicated four times, were investigated: conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage with rotation (CTR), no tillage (NT), no tillage with mulch (NTM), no tillage with rotation (NTR), and no tillage with mulch and rotation (NTMR). Maize (Zea mays L.) was the main crop, and treatments with rotation included cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and soil bulk density were determined for samples taken from depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–75 and 75–100 cm. Cumulative organic inputs to the soil were also estimated for all treatments. SOC stocks at equivalent soil mass were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the NTM, NTR and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm and top 10 cm layers at UZF, while SOC stocks were only significantly higher in the NTM and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm at DTC. NT alone had a slightly negative impact on the top SOC stocks. Cumulative SOC stocks were not significantly different between treatments when considering the whole 100 cm soil profile. Our results show the overarching role of crop residue mulching in CA cropping systems with respect to enhancing SOC stocks but also that this effect is limited to the topsoil. The highest cumulative organic carbon inputs to the soil were observed in NTM treatments at the two sites, and this could probably explain the positive effect on SOC stocks. Moreover, our results show that the combination of at least two CA principles including mulch is required to increase SOC stocks in these low-nitrogen-input cropping systems.

Characterization of soil pores in strip-tilled and conventionally-tilled soil using X-ray computed tomography

Changes in soil pore size distribution and connectivity can affect contaminant transport. Climate, soil type, and agricultural management practices can influence these characteristics. Conservation tillage practices, such as strip tillage, have been promoted as agricultural management practices that can help reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss in runoff. However, limited information exists in the literature on the effect of strip tillage on soil pore characteristics. Thus, the objective of this research study was to assess the effects of different tillage practices i.e., conventional tillage (CT) vs. strip tillage (ST), on soil pore properties and quantify change in soil pore characteristics as a function of season. Undisturbed cylindrical soil columns (150 mm diameter and 640 mm length) were collected from a field in Alabama, USA planted with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under ST and CT treatments during two seasons i.e., fall 2021 and spring 2022. Soil cores were collected from CT and ST portions of the field, in the fall, following cotton harvest and before planting a cover crop (season 1), and in the spring, after the cover crop had matured (season 2). X-ray computed tomography was used to scan the soil cores and quantify soil pore characteristics. Results show that the ST treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) greater macroporosity values, network density, macropore length density, and interconnectivity compared to the CT in season 1. This was attributed to ST being a minimally disturbed treatment: thereby, it has a better chance of preserving cracks and biological activity as compared to CT, which is more prone to destruction of large macropores. The pore properties also showed a drastic decrease in values during season 2, especially for the top 200 mm of the soil profile in response to rainfall induced soil reconsolidation in both the tillage systems. Overall, this study showed that pore morphology can be affected by tillage and seasonal aspects associated with them.

Effect of no-till followed by crop diversification on the soil microbiome in a boreal short cereal rotation

Diversification of agricultural practices, including changes in crop rotation, intercropping or cover cropping, influence the soil microbiome. Here the impact of tillage and crop diversification on the soil microbiome is reported, being one of the few boreal studies. The field experiment consisted of four treatments with four replications all having a short cereal rotation practice namely an oat (Avena sativa) – spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) – wheat (Triticum aestivum) rotation for the past 10 years until spring 2018. During that period two of the treatments were conventionally tilled with moldboard ploughing whereas the other two were no-tillage treatments. From the growing season 2018 until fall 2020 the main crop in all treatments was spring barley. The first conventional tillage treatment was diversified with English ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as an undersown cover crop for the next three growing seasons. The first no-tillage treatment continued with spring barley only. The second conventional tillage and no-tillage treatment had winter rapeseed in rotation in 2019. Bulk soils were sampled in May 2018 before diversification and then in October 2018, 2019, and 2020. The results showed a clear effect of tillage on the beta-diversity of the soil microbiome and an increase in fungal richness. Barley monoculture interrupted with winter rapeseed resulted in a minor change of the fungal and bacterial community composition. Other fungal and bacterial alpha diversity measures did not react to tillage or diversification nor did the gene copy abundances involved in the N cycle. In conclusion tillage had a profound effect on the soil microbiome hindering impact of the diversification.

Effects of climactic warming on the starch and protein content of winter wheat grain under conservation tillage in the North China Plain

Climate warming is expected to affect global food security and nutritional quality, particularly winter wheat grain protein content. No-tillage (NT) agriculture may be an effective option to mitigate the effects of climate warming; however, the associated mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of warming under NT and conventional tillage (CT) treatments on the physiological growth processes, yield, yield components, plant nitrogen metabolism, as well as grain protein content and fractions of winter wheat in the North China Plain for four consecutive years (2021–2022). The results showed that temperature increases under the NT and CT systems significantly impacted winter wheat growth and development, prolonged the effective reproductive period, and increased the leaf area index, photosynthesis rate, and aboveground dry matter mass in the pre-flowering stage. Hence, the temperature increase and tillage treatment affected the components and yield of winter wheat. The number of fruiting spikelets decreased significantly, and the number of grains and thousand-grain weight increased under the CT and NT systems. Meanwhile, the elevated temperature significantly increased the winter wheat yield by 11.4% (CT) and 62.3% (NT) compared with the control group. Temperature increases also significantly increased winter wheat seed protein content by 10.88% and 30.91% under CT and NT, respectively. The effects of warming and tillage treatments on seed protein fractions were more complex, with warming under CT reducing the albumin, globulin, and glutenin contents, whereas warming under NT increased the contents of all four protein fractions. This study provides a scientific basis for the mechanism underlying climate warming effects on protein content and fractions of winter wheat grains.

Soil loss and runoff in southern Brazil in conservation systems: a long-term experiment

Brazil has high soil loss rates due to its tropical and subtropical climate characteristics. In this sense, soil use and management practices may minimize such losses. In this study, experimental plots were monitored for eight years in southern Brazil during natural rainfall events. Treatments were as follows: I) bare soil under conventional tillage, II) barley-oat/ soybeans succession under conventional tillage, III) oat-lupine-vetch/ maize succession under conventional tillage, IV) barley-oat/ soybeans succession under no-tillage, and V) oat-lupine-vetch/ maize succession under no-tillage. Data on rainfall amount and erosivity indices (EI30, EI20, and EI10) were subjected to regression analyses, evaluating the effects of climatic variables on soil and water losses. We could also analyze crop species, conventional and no-tillage systems, and winter and summer seasons. The highest soil and water losses occurred in treatments under conventional tillage. In addition, soybeans treatments increased soil and water losses. Maize under no-tillage was the most efficient practice, as it had soil losses (3.4 times) and water losses (1.5 times) lower than soybeans under conventional tillage. Rainfall amounts and EI30 were better correlated with soil and water losses in conventional tillage treatments. However, EI10 could better explain the soil losses from the conservationist treatment.

Influence of cover cropping and conservation tillage on weeds during the critical period for weed control in soybean

AbstractLimited research has been directed at evaluating the ability of single cover crop plantings to suppress weeds in crops beyond the initial field season. Thus, this experiment was conducted to investigate the ability of a second-year self-regenerated annual and second-year perennial cover crop planting to suppress weeds during the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in soybean crops. Whole-plot treatments included 1) conventional till, 2) no-till with cover crop residue, 3) living mulch + cover crop residue, and 4) living mulch + winter-killed residue. Subplot treatments involved weed management intensity: a) no weed management (weedy), b) weeds manually removed through the CPWC (third node soybean stage; V3), and c) weeds manually removed until soybean canopy closure (weed-free). Overall, total annual cover crop biomass during the second field season was comparable to biomass obtained from direct seeded stands during the initial field season. All cover crop treatments reduced total weed biomass through the CPWC compared to conventional till. Soybean yield was low across all treatments in this experiment. Still, yield was similar between cover crop and conventional till treatments at one site-year, however, yields were lower in all cover crop treatments at the other site-year.

Effects of conservation tillage with straw mulching on annual yield and water utilization in a winter wheat‐summer maize cropping system on the North China Plain

AbstractUnderstanding the combination of conservation tillage and straw mulching on water utilization is important for developing water management strategies in arid and semiarid areas. Few studies have investigated the effects of different tillage treatments on precipitation efficiency in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)‐summer maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems. A 3‐year field experiment with five treatments, that is, conventional tillage (CT), no‐tillage, no‐tillage with straw mulching (NT + S), subsoiling tillage, and subsoiling tillage with straw mulching (ST + S), was conducted. The objective was to investigate how conservation tillage with straw mulching affected soil water storage (SWC), precipitation storage efficiency (PSE), water consumption, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and precipitation use efficiency (PUE) in a winter wheat‐summer maize cropping system. The results indicated that the ST + S treatment increased SWC by 10.1% and 8.3% in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016, respectively. The average PSE over the 3 years under the ST + S treatment was significantly higher, by 9.1% and 6.6%, than that under the CT treatment during the respective wheat and maize seasons. Compared with CT, the average annual yield under the NT + S treatment and ST + S treatment increased by 8.5% and 14.4%, respectively. In the winter wheat‐summer maize system, the NT + S and ST + S treatments significantly increased the annual WUE and PUE. The annual average PUE under the ST + S treatment was significantly higher, by 14.1%, than that under CT over the 3 years. Therefore, the ST + S treatment was more beneficial than the other treatments for increasing yield, WUE and PUE in sandy loam soil on the North China Plain.

The Influence of Short-Term Tillage, Compost, and Beneficial Microbes on Soil Properties and the Productivity of Wheat and Cowpea Crops

Tillage systems comprise physical, chemical, and biological modification processes that influence soil properties. Soil cultivation aims to create favorable conditions for the development and growth of crops, as evident in their yields. Three growing seasons (winter 2019/2020 (wheat), summer 2020 (cowpea), and winter 2020/2021 (wheat)) were studied in field experiments in Sidi Salem, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, to investigate the effects of soil tillage and the application of organic and beneficial microbes on various biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil and its productivity. Three replicates of the experimental treatments were set up in a split-plot design, in which there were four main plots: conventional soil tillage (ST) treatment for all three seasons (ST1); tillage in the first and second seasons (ST2); tillage only in the first season (ST3); and no tillage for all three seasons (ST4). However, the subplots (soil additives) were conditioned as follows: without treatment (control, T1); compost (C, T2); beneficial microorganisms (BM, T3); and combination (C + BM, T4). The biological property results showed that ST4T4 treatment produced high levels of microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes), as well as high levels of soil enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase), during the three growing seasons. However, the second season produced high numbers and dry weights of cowpea plants’ nodules. Additionally, changes in the chemical and physical properties showed that the application of various soil tillage treatments during the examined seasons led to significant increases in electrical conductivity (ECe, dSm−1), bulk density (BD, kg m−3), and soil infiltration rate (IR, cm h−1), following the trend of ST4 &gt; ST3 &gt; ST2 &gt; ST1. In contrast, the results revealed decreases in the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP, %), porosity (PO, %), soil aggregates (stable aggregates and optimal-sized aggregates, %), and soil penetration resistance (SPRa, Mpa). The combination treatment (ST4T4) provided the best yields, with grain yields of 4.991 and 5.325 tons ha−1 and straw yields of 5.214 and 5.338 tons ha−1 in the first and third seasons (wheat), respectively. Cowpea plants showed the same pattern in the second season. Therefore, improvements in soil properties and enhancements in biological activity help maintain its productivity and fertility through simplified tillage processes that reduce interference with the soil surface layer.

Effects of Different Tillage and Residue Retention Measures on Silage Maize Yield and Quality and Soil Phosphorus in Karst Areas

Soil phosphorus (P) limitation in karst areas has severely constrained soil quality and land productivity. To enhance silage maize yield and quality and alleviate and/or balance the low phosphorus availability in the karst areas of China, the experiment investigated the effects of different tillage and residue retention practices on silage maize yield and quality and soil phosphorus in this region. The treatment set included: conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage and root stubble retention (CTH), conventional tillage and mulch (CTM), conventional tillage and crushing and incorporation of hairy vetch by tillage (CTR), no tillage (NT), no tillage and root stubble retention (NTH), no tillage and mulch (NTM), and no tillage and living mulch (NTLM). The results showed that CTM, NTM, CTR, and NTLM significantly increased the height and LAI of silage maize compared with the CT, NT, and NTH treatments. CTM, CTR, and NTM significantly enhanced maize yield. Compared with conventional tillage, not tilling had a more pronounced improvement in silage quality, whereas residue retention hardly affected corn quality. In addition, although not tilling does not significantly increase acid phosphatase activity, it appeared to be advantageous in increasing soil microbial phosphorus and available phosphorus content when combined with cover crop measures. Ultimately, we concluded that NTM and NTLM are beneficial for silage maize yield and quality and soil phosphorus content in karst areas and verified the advantages of combining no tillage and residue retention practices for silage maize production and soil phosphorus improvement in the karst areas of China.

Predicting Soil Carbon Sequestration and Harvestable C-Biomass of Rice and Wheat by DNDC Model

Several biogeochemical models have been applied to understand the potential effects of management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, crop growth, and yield. In this study, the denitrification and decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate soil SOC dynamics and harvested C-biomass in rice–wheat rotation under organic/inorganic fertilization with conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT). Before calibration, DNDC underpredicted harvestable grain C-biomass of rice where percent difference (PD) varied from 29.22% to 42.14%, and over-simulated grain C-biomass of wheat where PD was −55.01% with 50% nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) and 50% animal manure applied under the CT treatment. However, after calibration by adjusting default values of soil and crop parameters, DNDC simulated harvestable grain C-biomass of both crops very close to observed values (e.g., average PD ranged from −2.81% to −6.17%). DNDC also predicted the effects of nutrient management practices on grain C-biomass of rice/wheat under CT/RT using d-index (0.76 to 0.96) and the calculated root mean squared error (RMSE of 165.36 to 494.18 kg C ha−1). DNDC simulated SOC trends for rice–wheat using measured values of several statistical indices. Regression analysis between modeled and observed SOC dynamics was significant with R2 ranging from 0.35 to 0.46 (p &lt; 0.01), and intercept ranging from 0.30 to 1.34 (p &lt; 0.65). DNDC demonstrated that combined inorganic and organic fertilization may result in higher C-biomass and more SOC sequestration in rice–wheat systems.

Deriving Surface Water Storage and Curve Numbers from Rainfall–Runoff Relationships in Conventional and Minimum Tillage Systems in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

Soil water availability is one of the major constraints limiting crop productivity under semi-arid conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop models are tools that can be used to explain and predict the effect of improved technologies on runoff and soil water availability, and their impact on crop productivity. The study hypothesized that minimum tillage treatments (planting basins and ripper) retain more rainwater and reduce runoff generation compared to conventional tillage treatments in maize-based cropping systems. Runoff plots were established on-farm and surface runoff was collected after each daily rainfall event. Surface water storage and curve number for each conventional and minimum tillage treatment were derived from the runoff and rainfall amounts measured over two growing seasons. Daily rainfall events of 9–76 mm generated runoff in both conventional and minimum tillage treatments. Planting basins retained more rainwater (12–19%) and reduced runoff generation (40–51%) than the conventional and ripper tillage treatments. Runoff generation in the tillage treatments varied with soil texture. Conventional and double ploughing treatments recorded more runoff (11–12%) in loamy sands than in sandy soil. Surface water storage and curve numbers from tillage treatments were consistent with runoff results and with conventional treatments, having higher curve numbers than minimum tillage practices. Conventional and ripper tillage practices have similar runoff potential as demonstrated by their curve numbers generated in this study. Curve numbers of 75–76 for conventional and 72–74 for minimum tillage systems are practical under light-textured soil and a land slope of &lt;2% when conventional and minimum tillage practices are implemented.

Implications of minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management on yield and soil health of rice-lentil cropping system – being a resource conservation technology

Conventional tillage methods and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers are causes of edaphic problems like soil degradation and loss of soil fertility which reduces crop yield. Puddling now-a-days, has become a major challenge for farmers due to breaking the soil structure, deficit water regimes, and depletion of soil health. Keeping in view, the absolute need to fulfill food security as well as sustainability, an experiment was conducted for 2 years on a rice-lentil cropping system during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 in sandy clay loam soil of a new alluvial zone of eastern India to evaluate effects of minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management on yield and soil health. Conventional tillage (CT) direct seeded rice-lentil, Minimum tillage(MT) direct seeded rice-lentil, MT transplanted rice-lentil and MT direct seeded rice-lentil were kept as main plot treatments and control (without any fertilizer), 100% RDF, 75% nitrogen + FYM, 75% nitrogen + FYM + Azospirillum and 75% Nitrogen + FYM + Azospirillum sp. + Zinc Sulphate were kept as subplot treatments during the study. Though conventional tillage treatments recorded higher LAI, CGR and yield in the first year of study in the case of rice; during the second year, minimum tillage treatments showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) better results in the aforesaid aspects with MTDSR-L having a maximum yield of 5.17 t ha−1. In the case of lentil minimum tillage treatments had better results for both years, with MTDSR-L treatment having the highest yield of 8.084 t ha−1. Among the nutrient schedules, the crops had better LAI, CGR and yield during the first year in the case of 100% RDF treatment, but in the second year, 75% Nitrogen + FYM + Azospirillum sp. + Zinc Sulphate had the highest respective values. Soil organic carbon was marginally improved by both tillage and nutrient treatments, while soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase activity and microbial count were significantly influenced. The combination of MTDSR-L and 75% Nitrogen + FYM + Azospirillum sp. + Zinc Sulphate (N5) treatment showed the maximum values for all soil biological parameters leading to improve soil health. The results of the experiment concluded that the practice of minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management may be recommended to enhance the yield and stability of rice-lentil cropping systems in sandy clay loam soil of a new alluvial zone of eastern India by acting as an alternative for the decline of soil health.

Effects of precipitation variability and conservation tillage on soil moisture, yield and quality of silage maize

To cope with the change of precipitation pattern, we explored the effects of conservation tillage and precipitation variability on soil moisture status and silage maize productivity, seeking solutions to improve the yield and quality of maize in the karst areas of China. In this study, precipitation variability and conservation tillage were jointly analyzed by precipitation levels (normal precipitation, 30% lower and 30% greater than normal precipitation), tillage methods (conventional tillage and no-tillage) and cover crop mulching (mulching and no mulching). It was found that no tillage (NT) increased the maize yield by 12.85% compared with the conventional tillage (CT) treatments. Above-normal precipitation treatments did not significantly increase biomass and soil water content across different fertility stages, but below-normal precipitation treatments reduced maize yield, crude protein (CP) content and soil water content at all soil levels. CT treatment significantly increased soil water content in the tillage layer (0–40 cm), but NT treatment significantly increased dry matter yield, plant height and CP content at harvest by 10.99, 3.41, 5.62%. Cover crop mulching significantly increased maize yield by 8.26% and soil moisture content at the seedling stage in 0–40 cm soil by 2.76 and 2.52%. The three-way interaction effects involving precipitation levels, tillage methods and cover crop mulching were significant for maize yield, CP content and soil water content (p &amp;lt; 0.05). In addition, this study found that soil water content was positively correlated with crude protein content of maize (p &amp;lt; 0.05). In conclusion, this study concluded that a combination of NT and cover crop mulching should be used to mitigate maize production risks caused by precipitation variability in the karst areas.

Effects of long-term tillage practices on the stability of soil aggregates and organic carbon in black soil farmland.

We examined the effects of different tillage practices on plough layer soil structure and organic carbon stabilization in black soil farmland with a long-term positioning platform. The wet-sieving method and infrared spectroscopy method were used to investigate the impacts of conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), sub-soiling tillage (ST), and moldboard plowing tillage (MP) on soil aggregates distribution and organic carbon characteristics in 0-40 cm soil layers. Compared to CT, both NT and ST treatments significantly increased the proportion of large macroaggregates (>2 mm) in the topsoil layer (0-20 cm)and that of small macroaggregates (0.25-2 mm) in the subsoil layer (20-40 cm) for NT, ST, and MP. NT, ST, and MP treatments resulted in higher mean weight dia-meter (MWD) and mean geometric diameter (GMD) of soil aggregates in both the topsoil and subsoil layers. NT treatment improved organic carbon contents in bulk soil and large macroaggregates in the topsoil layer, while ST and MP enhanced organic carbon contents in bulk soil and large macroaggregates in the subsoil layer. The contribution rate of small macroaggregates organic carbon content to the total was between 68.9% and 83.4%. Furthermore, the organic carbon chemical stabilization of soil body and aggregates increased in the topsoil and subsoil layers under NT treatment compared to others. The MWD had a positive correlation with the organic carbon content and chemical stability of soil body and small macroaggregates. These findings offered a theoretical basis for understanding the impacts of different tillage practices on the stability of soil aggregate and organic carbon in black soil region.

Optimizing lucerne (Medicago sativa) termination on the Loess Plateau, China: a comparative analysis of conventional tillage and herbicide treatments

IntroductionLucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a crucial component in agricultural rotation systems due to its ability to enhance soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents. In China, conventional tillage (CT) is commonly used for lucerne termination, leading to soil structure degradation and C and N losses. While herbicide application has been suggested for lucerne termination in the United States and EU, its impact on lucerne growth suppression and soil C and N contents in China remains uncertain.MethodsIn this study, we examined the effects of herbicide type [glyphosate and 2,4-D (G + 2), glyphosate and dicamba (G + D), 2,4-D and dicamba (2 + D), with water (W) and CT as controls] and concentration (100, 200, 300%) on various lucerne and soil properties.Results and DiscussionOur findings revealed that G + 2 and 2 + D treatments significantly reduced the regreening rate, and the recommended herbicide concentration (100%) was sufficient for lucerne termination. CT and W treatments resulted in a higher soil pH compared to herbicide treatments. Moreover, herbicide treatments exhibited higher soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) levels than the CT treatment. The 2 + D treatment demonstrated a higher SOC content compared to the G + 2 treatment, while the 200 and 300% herbicide concentrations reduced SOC and TN levels. The G + 2 treatment had the highest soil ammonium nitrogen content (7.94 ± 1.45 mg kg−1), while the CT treatment showed the lowest (6.46 ± 1.54 mg kg−1). In conclusion, our study suggests that applying the recommended herbicide dosage (100%) effectively terminates lucerne grassland on the Loess Plateau of China without negatively impacting soil C and N storage. Finally, it is important to acknowledge that one-year trials at a single site have inherent limitations, and the findings should be considered cautiously when informing policy decisions.

Weed phyto-sociology and diversity in relation to conservation agriculture and weed management strategies in Northwestern Himalayas of India

To create weed management techniques capable of improving agroecosystem sustainability, it is essential to comprehend the different weed flora composition and diversification dynamics in conservation agriculture production systems. In North Western Himalaya from 2018 to 2020, evaluation of various tillage techniques with and without residue incorporation and weed management techniques on diverse weed flora composition was performed. Fifteen treatment amalgamations of five tillages viz. CT (conventional tillage) in maize-CT in wheat, CT-ZT (ZT, zero tillage), ZT-ZT, ZT-ZTR (ZTR, zero tillage in amalgamation with remainder integration) & ZTR-ZTR and three weed management practices viz. H (suggested herbicide in maize)-H (suggested herbicide in wheat), IWM-IWM (IWM, integrated weed supervision) & HW-HW; (HW, hand weeding) were calculated in strip plot design. Significant differences (p = 0.05) of weed density and total weed count were recorded during summer (maize) and winter (wheat) seasons. Among tillage treatments, lowest weed population and total weed population were recorded in conservation tillage (ZTR-ZTR) in summer and conservative tillage followed by zero tillage in winter season (CT-ZT), respectively. IWM-IWM and H-H had a least weed population and total weed population in summer and winter seasons, respectively. Highest important value index during summer and winter seasons was recorded in Echinochloa colona (55.90%) and Avena ludoviciana (76.99%), respectively. Higher Shannon Wiener index and Evenness were recorded for CT+HW-CT+HW (1.83, 0.91) and ZT+IWM-ZTR+IWM (1.73, 0.86) which indicate higher weed species diversity during summer and winter seasons, respectively. ZTR-ZTR led to less diverse weed diversity compared to intensive conventional tillage (CT-CT) practices. However, higher Simpson’s diversity was recorded for CT+HW-CT+HW, i.e. 0.83 and 0.82 for maize and wheat, respectively, compared to the other conventional tillage treatments. This study helps in understanding the crop-weed relation such that the implementation of sound and economic weeds management strategies. Further, long-term experiments are required in order to interpret the complicated relationships of diverse weed species under different tillage and weed management strategies for sustainable and adoptive conservation agriculture production system for North Western Himalayas.

Índice de qualidade do solo de um argissolo sob parcelas de longa duração no tabuleiro costeiro nordestino, Brasil

ABSTRACT Soil quality, measured through its chemical, physical and microbiological attributes, changes as a result of anthropic sensations and becomes an important tool to assess environmental quality. The objective of this study was to determine and evaluate the Quality Index of an Ultisol in a long-term (17-yr) plots under different management systems in the Coastal Tablelands of Sergipe State, in Northeastern, Brazil. Main effects were conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), and minimum tillage (MT) distributed cultivated strips with corn as the main crop. Split-range treatments were randomly distributed and cultivated with cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and millet (Pennisetum glaucum). A forest soil was used as reference, compared to the soil samples of the cultivated area. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) for the 0-0.10 m layer was calculated by the additive method. There were changes in soil properties between the different management systems, and between the experimental soil and the reference area. The highest SQI was obtained from the forest area (67.1) followed by the NT treatment (65.5), MT (65.1) and CT treatment (61.0). The lowest SQI was observed in the CT treatment previously cultivated with pigeon pea (56.5). Among the evaluated soil functions, maintenance of homeostasis had the greatest influence on the SQI. The higher acidity of the forest soil helps to explain the origin of the limitations of the soil in the cultivated area that occupies the same type of soil, tolerated by the adoption of conservationist managements.

Effect of Locally Adapted Conservation Tillage on Runoff, Soil Erosion, and Agronomic Performance in Semiarid Rain-Fed Farming in Ethiopia

An on-farm field experiment on a locally adapted conservation tillage method was undertaken to evaluate its effect on soil erosion, surface runoff, and agronomic parameters. It was conducted on five farmer fields with 3–14% slopes in the Rift Valley and the Eastern escarpment of Ethiopia’s central highlands region for two cropping seasons. The treatments were conventional tillage (CT), repeated ploughing performed with a traditional ox-drawn plough named ‘Maresha’, and minimized contour ploughing (MT) at most twice with a locally adapted sweep-like attachment assembled to Maresha. Surface runoff and soil loss in the MT system were 30 to 60% and 49 to 76% lower than those in the CT system on 3 to 14% slopes, respectively. Despite the wide variation in surface runoff, limited differences in soil water content for the depth from 0 to 20 cm were observed between the treatments. Significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) in grain yields (kg ha−1) of 246 and 323 in the 1st and 2nd growing seasons, respectively, were recorded between the MT and CT treatments. The results of this study demonstrated that the MT system can significantly reduce surface runoff and soil loss while improving crop yields in rainfed smallholder farming systems of Ethiopia.

Assessing the Efficacy of Living and Dead Cover Crop Mixtures for Weed Suppression in Sweet Corn

Modern vegetable production systems are often characterized by monoculture fields and the intensive use of tillage and/or synthetic agrochemicals for managing weeds. A growing public interest in more sustainable and eco-friendly production practices has resulted in increased demand for crops to be produced with lower inputs. Field studies were conducted over three field seasons to investigate the use of conservation tillage in concert with an interplanted living mulch and/or cover crop residue for managing weeds in sweet corn as compared with the standard practice of using conventional tillage and pre-emergence residual herbicides. Whole plot treatments included: (1) conventional till, (2) no-till with cover crop residue, (3) living mulch + cover crop residue, and (4) living mulch + winter killed residue. The split-plot factor consisted of herbicide treatments: (1) at-planting application of residual herbicides or (2) no herbicide. The cover crop systems suppressed weeds as well as the standard practice throughout the cropping cycle in all three years. In addition, there was no significant improvement in weed suppression with the application of herbicides within the cover crop treatments. Crop development and yield were similar among treatments in year 2. However, reduced yields were encountered in all cover crop treatments during year 3 relative to the conventional tillage treatment.