Effects Of Tillage Systems Research Articles

Organic amendments and conservation tillage improve cotton productivity and soil health indices under arid climate

Long-term different tillage system field trials can provide vital knowledge about sustainable changes in soil health indices and crop productivity. This study examined cotton productivity and soil health indices under different tillage systems and organic materials. The present study was carried out at MNS University of Agriculture, Multan to explore the effect of different tillage systems: conventional tillage (T1), conservation tillage (T2), and organic materials: control (recommended dose of synthetic fertilizers; 160:90:60 kg ha−1NPK), poultry manure (10 t ha−1 PM), compost (10 t ha−1 CM), farmyard manure (20 t ha−1 FYM), and biochar (7 t ha−1 BC) on cotton productivity and soil health indices. Two years field trials showed that different tillage systems and organic materials significantly improved the growth, morphological, and yield attributes of cotton and soil health indices. The cotton showed highest seed cotton yield (3692–3736 kg ha−1), and soil organic matter (0.809–0.815%), soil available nitrogen (74.3–74.6 mg kg−1), phosphorus (7.29–7.43 mg kg−1), and potassium (213–216 mg kg−1) under T2 in comparison to T1 system during both years of field experiment, respectively. Similarly, PM (10 t ha−1) showed highest seed cotton yield (3888–3933 kg ha−1), and soil organic matter (0.794–0.797%), nitrogen (74.7–75.0 mg kg−1), phosphorus (7.39–7.55 mg kg−1), and potassium (221–223 mg kg−1) when these are compared to FYM (20 t ha−1), CM (10 t ha−1), and BC (7 t ha−1) during both years of field experiment, respectively. These findings indicate that conservation tillage system with application of 10 t ha−1 PM are the best practices for the sustainable cotton production and to ensure improvement in the soil health indices under arid climatic conditions.

Effects of Tillage System, Sowing Date, and Weather Course on Yield of Double-Crop Soybeans Cultivated in Drained Paddy Fields

In temperate monsoon areas, major constraints of soybean production in drained paddy fields are excess soil water during monsoon seasons. To further understand how agronomic practices and weather course affect the yield of soybeans, we conducted field experiments at Gwangju, Korea (35°10′ N, 126°53′ E) over three years (2018–2020). Double-crop soybeans were grown at two tillage systems (TS) [rotary tillage (RT), deep plowing followed by rotary tillage (DPRT)] and three sowing dates (SD) (June 10–15, June 25–30, and July 10–15) in drained paddy fields. Flowering phenology (R2) was accelerated by 5 days with each 15-day delay in SD. This resulted in a significant reduction in vegetative growth up to R2, with subsequent reductions in CGR and NAR through R2–R5 (beginning of grain filling). With a 30-day delay in SD, yield was significantly reduced by 27.0%. The better performance of RT over DPRT was demonstrated by greater yields (13.7%). In addition, yield was greatly varied with weather volatility among years, ranging from 123.8 to 552.0 g m−2. Weather volatility was the greatest contributor to yield variability (30.4%), followed by SD (17.0%) and TS (10.3%). Our results suggest that the yield might be mainly determined by how much growth has already been achieved before flowering and through R2–R5.

Lime Rate in Clayey Soils Influences Chemical Fertility and Sugarcane Yield

Liming contributes to the alleviation of acidity in highly weathered soils. For sugarcane, the use of green harvest methods and new soil tillage systems requires an adjustment of lime application rates. In the present study, the effects of different lime rates and tillage systems on sugarcane performance and soil chemical fertility parameters were assessed. Three experiments were conducted in two locations between April 2015 and October 2019. The study design was a randomized block field study with four replicates. Four lime rates were applied once at sugarcane establishments in each soil tillage system and location: no liming (control); lime recommended rate (LRR); two times LRR (2× LRR); and three times LRR (3× LRR). The three soil tillage systems were conventional (CT), deep-strip (DT), and modified deep-strip tillage (MDT). Soil chemical fertility, leaf nutrient concentrations, and sugarcane yield components were analyzed, and correlations were identified by principal component analysis (PCA). The soil acidity was adequately alleviated in all tillage systems. Increasing the lime rate improved the lime distribution and soil fertility parameters. Applying lime at rates higher than LRR improved stalk and sugar yields, longevity, agronomic efficiency index (AEI), and correlated with a longer residual effect of liming, mainly in the last ratoon.

Interactive Effects of Tillage Systems and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on the Performance of Mustard-Boro-aman Rice Cropping Systems under Conservation Agriculture Practices

In intensive crop production systems, sustainable agricultural development strives to find the balance between productivity and environmental impact. To reduce the N fertilizer-associated environmental risks of intensive cropping, sound agronomic and environmentally acceptable management practices are urgently needed. To attain high yields, improve soil health, and ensure economic return and N usage efficiency in conservation-based intensive agriculture, N management must be optimized, which has not yet been studied systematically in the mustard-boro rice-aman rice cropping pattern. During 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19 cropping seasons in Bangladesh, cropping system experiments were conducted to investigate the interactive effects of tillage practices and nitrogen fertilizer rates on soil characteristics, crop productivity, and profitability under conservation agriculture (CA) systems. The trial featured two tillage systems: (i) conventional tillage (CT) and (ii) strip-tillage (ST). It also used three doses of N fertilizer: N1: 75% of the recommended N fertilizer dose (RND); N2: 100% of the RND; and N3: 125% of the RND. Each crop’s experiment was set up in a split-plot design with three replications, with the main plot assigned tillage practices and the sub-plot assigned nitrogen fertilizer rates. For rice, neither the tillage systems nor the interactions between the tillage systems and N levels affected any of the growth parameters, yield, and yield components, but the N levels did. Across the tillage systems, the rice grain and straw yield were similar for the N levels of 100% RND and 125% RND, which were significantly higher than the N level of 75% RND. In mustard, the highest seed yield was recorded from the tillage system ST, with an N level of 125% RND, which was at par with the tillage system ST with 100% RND and CT with 125% RND. The highest system rice equivalent yield (SREY, 14.9 to 15.8 t ha−1) was recorded from the tillage system ST, with an N level of 125% RND, which was at par with the same tillage system with an N level of 100% RND. The soil penetration and bulk density (BD) were higher for the CT than the ST, but soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and boron (B) content were higher for the tillage system ST than the CT. Across N levels, the tillage system CT had a 2–4% higher production cost than the ST. Total production cost increased as N levels increased across all tillage systems. The tillage system ST with an N level of 125% RND had the highest system gross return and net profit, which was at par with the same tillage system with 100% RND. This study suggested that farmers should apply slightly higher N for the mustard-boro-aman rice systems for the first couple of years when commencing CA; however, after a few years of consistent CA practice, the N rate may be reduced.

Effect of Tillage Systems on a Soil Moisture Content and Crops Productivity

Effect of Tillage Systems on a Soil Moisture Content and Crops Productivity

Economic Viability of Winter-Wheat Tillage Systems

A multidisciplinary field experiment for winter wheat was conducted in Croatia during three seasons. The intention was to examine the effect of tillage systems (TS) on the economic indicators, that is, on the gross margin (GM), rate of profitability (ROP), cost-effectiveness (E) and productivity (P). The TSs were as follows: CT — plowing up to a 30 cm depth, DT — disking up 8-12 cm, LT — loosening up to 35 cm and NT — no-tillage. The experimental design was a randomized block one in four repetitions, whereby the basic TS plot amounted to 540 m2 . The economic indicators were calculated using the economic equations and standards. Statistical analysis was performed with the SAS 9.3 and Microsoft Excel 2016 software. The results are pointing that the LT assigned the prime economic results. The ROP was in the following order: CT (32.67%) < DT (37.39%) < LT (40.31%) < NT (42.29%). The same order was established for the E, as follows: CT (1.33) < DT (1.37) < LT (1.40) < NT (1.42). The NT established the best P because of the lowest production costs, but due to a significantly lower yield, the NT has a limited adoption in practice. A viable agricultural production by the implementation of reduced soil tillage systems has its capabilities and potential while invigorating economic sustainability and agricultural production’s financial efficiency.

Short-Term Effects of Tillage Systems, Fertilization, and Cropping Patterns on Soil Chemical Properties and Maize Yields in a Loamy Sand Soil in Southern Mozambique

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) agriculture is characterized by dependence on erratic rainfall, inadequate conservation practices, and a decline in soil fertility resulting in low crop productivity. Therefore, conservation agriculture (CA) has been proposed as an alternative to improve soil fertility and productivity. Hence the aim was to investigate the effects of tillage systems, fertilization, and cropping patterns on selected soil chemical properties (pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, extractable phosphorus, exchangeable cations, and cation exchange capacity) and identify which cropping pattern maximizes stover and grain maize–legume productivity and land use. A two-year (2016/17–2017/18) field experiment in a loamy sand soil was conducted at Nhacoongo Research Station, southern Mozambique. Two tillage systems (conservation (CA) and conventional tillage (CT)), two fertilization treatments (fertilized and unfertilized), and seven cropping patterns (four sole crops and three maize–legume intercrops) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with split–split plot arrangement and replicated four times. CA practices resulted in significantly higher soil chemical properties and increased stover and grain yields as compared to CT practices, but fertilization demonstrated insignificant effects on soil chemical properties and significant influences on stover and grain yield of maize and legumes. Cropping patterns induced no significant effect on soil chemical properties and either stover or grain yield. Estimated indices like land equivalent ratio (1.18–2.67) and competitive ratio index (0.01–1.72) confirmed the advantage of intercropping against sole cropping. This is largely supported by the estimated values of aggressivity and relative crowding coefficient. Smallholder farmers can therefore benefit by adopting CA.

Deep tilling and localized liming improve soil chemical fertility and sugarcane yield in clayey soils

The selection of an appropriate soil tillage system for improving yields and longevity is an important decision in sugarcane cultivation. In the present study, the effects of different soil tillage systems and methods of applying lime on sugarcane stalk and sugar yield performance as well as soil fertility parameters were evaluated throughout the sugarcane crop cycle. The experiments were established in two locations in April 2015 and conducted until August 2019, corresponding to a total of 4 growing seasons. A field study with a randomized block design was established with four replicates considering 4 treatments: conventional soil tillage system (CT), deep strip-tillage system (DT) and modified deep strip-tillage system (MDT), all with the same lime rate; and a standard treatment (control, CT without liming). Immediately after harvesting plant cane (18 months (mo) after planting), first ratoon (30 mo after planting), second ratoon (42 mo after planting) and third ratoon (54 mo after planting), soil samples were collected from a depth of 0.0–1.00 m, stratified every 0.2 m. Leaf material was sampled during the period of full vegetative growth. Analyses of soil chemical fertility, leaf concentrations of elements, and sugarcane yield components were performed. MDT was found to correct soil acidity most efficiently, mainly due to the positioning of the lime application. Under high aluminum saturation (AS), especially in deeper layers, deep lime placement was more effective and resulted in the best distributions of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), the highest base saturation (BS) and the lowest AS compared with the other treatments. Lime application was more important than the tillage system for improving the sucrose concertation and total recoverable sugar (TRS), whereas the tillage system affected the stalk yield and, consequently, the yield of sugar. Compared with DT and CT, the average stalk yield was 4.1% and 9.4% higher, respectively, under MDT at Macatuba and 6.3% and 15.3%, higher, respectively, under MDT at Piraju. Similarly, MDT improved average sugar yield by 3.7% and 10.4% at Macatuba and 6.1% and 16.3% at Piraju. Overall, long-term assessments, which are important for semi-perennial crops like sugarcane, showed that the both deep strip-tillage were most effective.

Effects of tillage systems on soil water distribution, crop development, and evaporation and transpiration rates of soybean

Tillage practices are known to affect soil water retention, plant available water and, consequently, crop production. Impacts can be determined by assessing soil hydraulic properties and crop characteristics. In this study, three tillage practices were investigated with respect to vertical soil water distribution and development of soybean. A specific focus was set on determining evaporation and transpiration as fractions of evapotranspiration to obtain additional information on water availability and crop water use. The agricultural practices included conventional tillage, reduced tillage (no plow), and no-tillage. The study site was a long-term field experiment under rainfed conditions. The investigations covered a vegetation period of soybean. The measurements comprised weather and soil water monitoring using sensors and manual monitoring of crop development. Evapotranspiration and its components were determined using scintillometer measurements and an isotope-based water balance technique. In the researched vegetation period with limited water availability, the conservative tillage practices showed better water storage, water use, and crop yields compared to the conventional practice. The weekly evaporation and transpiration rates progressed according to the respective canopy development. Thus, delayed plant development of the no-till practice led to extended green cover and productive water use during the late season, where a large part of the precipitation has fallen. The tillage-induced differences of soil hydraulic properties had a substantial impact on soil water distribution, but a comparatively small impact on the soil surface wetness and thus directly on the evaporation rate. The tillage-induced impacts on soil cover by plant residues, however, showed the substantial reduction effect of plant residue cover on evaporation losses. Hence, assessment of evaporation and transpiration rates contributes to the understanding of differences in water productivity and promotes the efficient use of the available water resources.

Effects of different tillage systems and cropping sequences on soil physicochemical properties and greenhouse gas emissions

The greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) are major contributor to climate change and farmlands are prominent source of GHGE that are affected by soil chemical and physical properties. Field management practices e.g. no-till (NT) and cropping sequences (CSs) can regulate GHGE by changing soil physicochemical properties. To understand the role of soil physicochemical properties on GHGE under different tillage and CSs, a field experiment was conducted during 2019 and 2020 consisting of two tillage systems (NT and rotary tillage (RT)) and CSs (maize-wheat-soybean-wheat (MWS), soybean-wheat-maize-wheat (SWM), wheat-soybean (SW) and wheat-maize (WM)). The results showed that N2O emissions were higher in 2019, mainly under SWM and SW as compared to other CSs. Higher cumulative N2O emissions (28.89% (2019) and 37.94% (2020)) under RT were observed than NT. RT had higher CH4 sink in 2019 (20.93%) and 2020 (19.6%) in comparison to NT. Moreover, CH4 uptake was increased almost 91.49% in 2020 as compared to 2019. These inter-annual changes between GHGE were mainly due to water filled pore spaces (WFPS) induced by inter-annual precipitation anomalies, where higher precipitation (79.91%) in 2019 increased about 50.71% WFPS as compared to 2020. The global warming potential (GWP) was negatively correlated to TN, PON, SOC, POC and SOC stock, but positively correlated to WFPS. These results suggested that RT could negatively impact WFPS, SOC, TN and their associated fractions in different CSs and enhance GWP. In conclusion, NT with diversified CSs could offer a solution for decreasing GWP and improving maize equivalent yield.

Studying the effect of a new tillage system on some yield attributes of sunflower crop (Helianthus annuus. L)

The study was conducted during the Autumn season 2021 in one of the fields of the College of Agriculture - University of Basra, Karmat Ali site, in a silty clay soil by using a multi-purpose tillage machine. by split-blocks system according to a completely randomized design of a factorial experiment It included three factors: Three plowing depths (30, 40 and 50 cm), two rotary speeds of the rotary plow blades(250 and 300 rpm-1) give two levels of soil pulverizing, and three distances between the two opener furrows (35, 40 and 45 cm) give three different widths of furrows, And its effect on some yield attributes of sunflower, which included: weight of 1000 seeds, seed yield, percentage and oil yield. The results showed a significant increase in Weight of 1000 seeds, total seeds yield and oil yield, with an increase in the plowing depth from 30 to 50 cm, a low rotational speed of 250 rpm, and an increase in the distance between the boards of opener furrows from 35 to 45 cm.

Effect of Catch Crops and Tillage Systems on the Content of Selected Nutrients in Spring Wheat Grain

This paper presents the effects of catch crops (white mustard, lacy phacelia, and a mixture of legumes—faba bean + spring vetch) and two tillage systems (plough tillage and no-tillage) on some quality parameters of spring wheat grain. A field experiment in growing spring wheat in monoculture was conducted in the period 2016–2018 in Czesławice (central part of the Lublin region, Poland). An assumption was made that the nutritional composition of wheat grain could be influenced already at the stage of selection of agronomic practices by modifying the soil chemical and enzyme composition—being the “starting point” for grain quality. It was proven that all the catch crops tested in this study contributed to an improvement in the chemical composition of the soil used in the experiment (a significant increase in humus, P and Mg content). Both the catch crops and the conservation (no-tillage) system stimulated the activity of soil enzymes: dehydrogenase and urease. This resulted in more favorable soil conditions for spring wheat grown in monoculture. The cultivation of the catch crops (particularly white mustard) indirectly contributed to an increased content of dietary fiber and o-dihydroxyphenols in wheat grain. Moreover, the content of most of the amino acids determined and the essential amino acid index (EAAI) in wheat grain were found to be more favorable in the treatments with the catch crops. The highest content of all the macro- and micronutrients analyzed in wheat grain was found in the catch crop treatments (especially that with white mustard). It should be noted that spring wheat responded favorably to the reduced tillage system (no-tillage). Since the grain content of o-dihydroxyphenols, magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese, iron, selenium, and some amino acids (especially essential ones: Lys, Met, Trp) was found to be higher compared to plough tillage.

Spring barley response to tillage systems and crop residues

The present study aimed to assess the effect of tillage systems and crop residues on grain yield and weed infestation of spring barley. The experiment was established with the method of randomized sub-blocks. The main experimental factor was the tillage system (TS): conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT). The second experimental factor included plots with crop residues (CR): straw (S) or without straw (WS). A higher grain yield of barley was determined in the RT than NT system. The RT system allowed producing a higher spike number and a higher 1000 grain weight. A higher grain yield was also obtained on the plots with straw (S) than without straw (WS). Greater weed density in barley stands was determined on RT and NT plots without crop residues (WS), whereas the lowest one was found on the CT plots with the residues (S). The air-dry weight of weeds was higher on the NT plots without crop residues (WS) than on the other plots, while the lowest air-dry weight of weeds was determined on the CT plots with the residues (S). The biodiversity of weeds in a barley stand was greater on the WS than on the S plots.

Effect of different tillage systems and cultivars on yield and yield attributes of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2019 at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Agronomy of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur (H.P.) to investigate the effect of different tillage systems and varieties on yield of rice. The treatments consist of three rice varieties (HPR 1156, HPR 2656 and HPR 2795) which were tested under three tillage systems viz., conventional tillage, and minimum tillage without residue and minimum tillage with residue retention. The experiment was set up in a split plot design, with the tillage system in the main plot and rice cultivars in the sub plots, and it was triple replicated. The texture of the soil at the test site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction and in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it was evaluated as medium. Significantly higher no. of panicles per meter square were observed in minimum tillage without residue though this treatment was at par with conventional tillage while significantly lower number of panicles m-2 were recorded with minimum tillage with residue retention. Significantly greater number of grains per panicle and panicle length were recorded in conventional tillage while minimum tillage with residue retention recorded lower values of number of grains per panicle and panicle length. Different tillage practices had no effect on the test weight of rice. Among different varieties tested, HPR 2656 recorded greater number of panicles per square meter which was at par with variety HPR 1156. Significantly higher number of grains per panicle and panicle length were recorded with HPR 2795 while the other two varieties were at par with each other. Rice variety HPR 1156 produced grains that had significantly greater test weight while the other two varieties (HPR 2795 and HPR 2656) were at par with each other with respect to this parameter. In terms of yield, conventional tillage produced much larger grain yield, straw yield, and biological yield and was at par with minimum tillage without residue. Among different varieties tested, HPR 2795 recorded much greater grain, straw and biological yields.

The Yield and Weed Infestation of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera Metzg) in Two Tillage Systems

Results from a four-year field experiment were used to evaluate the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems on the yield, selected yield and crop structure elements, weed infestation, and contents of fat and glucosinolates in the seeds of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera Metzg). The study proved the beneficial effect of the NT system on the winter rape seed yield only during the precipitation shortage in the growing season. In the years with a sufficient sum of precipitation, a higher seed yield was produced in the CT than in the NT system. Considering the average values from the four-year study period, the seed yield and straw yield, plant density after emergence and before harvest, number of branches and main shoot length, and finally the 1000 seed weight were significantly higher in the CT compared with the NT system. In contrast, the NT system proved more beneficial regarding seed weight per silique and fat content of the seeds. The statistical analysis of the study results showed no effect of the tillage systems on the glucosinolate content of the seeds. In turn, a significantly higher number and air-dry weight of weeds as well as an increased density of Viola arvensis weeds were demonstrated in the NT plot compared with the CT plot of winter oilseed rape. Sonchus asper and Sonchus arvensis were identified in the NT plot but not in the CT plot. A significantly higher density of Chenopodium album and Euphorbia helioscopia weeds was detected in the CT system compared with the NT system. The statistical analysis of study results regarding weed community diversity showed similar values to the Shannon-Weinner diversity index (H’) in both tillage systems and a significantly higher value of the Simpson dominance index (SI) in the NT system compared with the CT system.

Effects of tillage systems on soil organic carbon and some soil physical properties

AbstractConservation tillage by increasing soil organic carbon can improve soil structure, especially in arid and semiarid regions. In this study, the effects of three tillage systems [conventional (CT), reduced (RT), and no‐till (NT)] in a wheat‐maize crop rotation on soil organic carbon content (SOC) and some physical properties of a clay loam soil were investigated. The field experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the third year in northeastern Iran. Samples of disturbed and undisturbed soil were collected from 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths and analyzed to quantify SOC content, pore size distribution, hydraulic properties, and aggregate stability. SOC was higher in NT than in the RT and CT treatments, due to the use of cover crops (clover) and the retention of crop residues in this system. The highest water‐stable and macro‐aggregate content were also obtained in the NT system. The highest water contents (for most of the matric suctions) were found in the treatments CT and RT, which also had a high total soil porosity. It was found that tillage in CT and RT loosened the soil and thus increased the total porosity. The highest air‐entry value was found in the CT treatment at 15–30 cm depth, which contained the most micro‐aggregates. However, the maximum n‐value (shape parameter of the water retention curve) was obtained in the treatment with the largest pores, that is, NT at a depth of 15–30 cm. X‐ray images of the pore space and pore function data (dmean, dmode, and dmedian) showed that the largest soil pores were found in the NT treatment, probably due to the high SOC in the NT system. The results of this study showed that the effects of tillage systems on soil physical properties are strongly dependent on SOC. Based on the results of this study, the use of a no‐till system with crop rotation that includes cover crops and crop residue retention is recommended to increase soil organic matter and thereby improve soil structural stability in arid and semiarid regions.

The effects of various tillage systems on soil structure and root system development in wheat (Triticum durum Desf.).

The objective of our study is to compare the effect of agricultural soil preparation on the physicomechanical properties of the soil and the consequences on the root system of wheat. To achieve these goals, three technical tillage chains (chain 1: deep tillage, chain 2: agronomic tillage, chain 3: no-tillage), were compared in the same pedoclimatic and historical situations. The experiment was carried out on silty clay soil in the experimental station of the National Higher School of Agronomy (Algiers). The results show that the techniques affect soil’s proprieties and the root system differently. The agronomic tillage has the best favorable effect on soil humidity, Bulk density, and soil Penetration resistance (11,1%; 50%; 0.6 MPa) (p-value :0,0001). Concerning the roots, the density, the diameter, and length were better when the soil is deeply tilled, non-tilled, or agronomical tilled, respectively (CH1:3.37 g/dm³; CH3:1.38 mm; CH2:12.23 cm). Examining all the results of this study has shown how tillage is reflected in and contributes to the farmer's orientation towards the right choice to optimize and conserve soil and water at the same time. Thus, under this study's experimental conditions, the technical itinerary of tillage with agronomic ploughing seems to be an alternative to conventional ploughing. This method of tillage is easily feasible from a technical point of view. Besides, it can generate economic gains compared to ploughing. However, its impacts on the soil and crop yields need to be studied in the longer term.

Soil Water Capacity, Pore Size Distribution, and CO2 Emission in Different Soil Tillage Systems and Straw Retention.

The long-term implementation of crop rotation and tillage has an impact on the soil environment through inputs and soil disturbance, which in turn has an impact on soil quality. Tillage has a long-term impact on the agroecosystems. Since 1999, a long-term field experiment has been carried out at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University. The aim of this experiment is to investigate the effects of long-term various-intensity tillage and straw retention systems on soil physical properties. The results were obtained in 2013 and 2019 (spring rape was growing). According to the latest edition of the International Soil Classification System, the soil in the experimental field was classified as Endocalcaric Stagnosol (Aric, Drainic, Ruptic, and Amphisiltic). The treatments were arranged using a split-plot design. In a two-factor field experiment, the straw was removed from one part of the experimental field, and the entire straw yield was chopped and spread at harvest in the other part of the field (Factor A). There were three different tillage systems as a subplot (conventional deep ploughing, cover cropping with following shallow termination, and no-tillage) (Factor B). There were four replications. The long-term application of reduced tillage significantly increased soil water retention and improved the pore structure and CO2 emissions. Irrespective of the incorporation of straw, it was found that as the amount of water available to plants increases, CO2 emissions from the soil increase to some extent and then start to decrease. Simplified tillage and no-tillage in uncultivated soil reduce CO2 emissions by increasing the amount of water available to plants from 0.151 to 0.233 m3·m−3.

Effect of tillage and cultivars on growth and growth indices of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was undertaken at the Experimental Farm of Department of Agronomy of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur (H.P.) during kharif 2019 to study the effect of different tillage system and varieties on yield of rice. The treatments consisted of three rice varieties (viz., HPR 1156, HPR 2656 and HPR 2795) which were tested under three tillage systems viz., conventional tillage, and minimum tillage without residue and minimum tillage with residue treatment. The trial was laid out in split plot design with tillage system in main plot and rice varieties in sub plot and was replicated thrice. Conventional tillage recorded taller plants (124.50 cm) and higher dry matter accumulation (858.49 g/m-2) which was followed by minimum tillage without residue. Among the varieties tested HPR 2795 recorded taller plants (128.31 cm) and higher dry matter accumulation (891.33 g/m-2) which was followed by HPR 2656. Higher value of AGR, CGR and RGR was recorded in conventional tillage and among the varieties; HPR 2795 resulted in higher growth indices.

The effect of tillage and no-tillage system on culturable fungal communities in the rhizosphere and soil of two spelt cultivars

A return to old species cultivated in the past, especially those with high health-promoting and nutritional values, such as spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta) is being increasingly observed. In addition, due to the increasing use of soil protective cultivation systems in recent years, such as no-tillage cultivation or direct sowing, the aim of the study was to assess the mycobiota of spelt rhizosphere and root-free soil, determine the ratio of potentially pathogenic to antagonistic fungi and assess the impact of cultivation systems on the frequency and biodiversity of fungi. The frequency and species composition were examined in 3-years cultivation of two spelt cultivars. The total number of rhizosphere fungi was significantly higher in the no-tillage system and under the spelt cultivar Franckenkorn compared to the tillage system and the cultivar Badengold. The species richness of the analyzed experimental variants was similar. The dominant group of fungi was the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota). Ninety-five percent of the fungal population from the rhizosphere and 88% of fungi from root-free soil belonged to rare (1–5%) or sporadic species (<1%). Taxa with higher frequency (>5%) in the rhizosphere included: Clonostachys, Gibellulopsis, Rhizopus and Sarocladium, Mortierella, Mucor, Penicillium, Sarocladium and Trichoderma. The cultivation system and plant cultivar affected the occurrence and distribution of fungal populations in the rhizosphere and root-free soil. The similarity of species composition of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and root-free soil was low, while taking into account species frequency, their diversity was high. The ratio of antagonistic to potentially phytopathogenic fungi of spelt rhizosphere deteriorated in the 2nd and 3rd year of wheat cultivation.