Tillage Methods Research Articles

The influence of systems of practices of basic tillage soil in combination with the use of nitrogen fertilizer on the yield of winter wheat varieties in the conditions of the Lower Volga region


 Annotation.In the conditions of the arid steppe of the Lower Volga region, on the chernozems of the southern heavily carbonaceous in three-year field stationary three-factor experiments, the reaction of winter wheat varieties selected by the Federal State Budgetary Establishment "FANC of the South-East" was studied. Winter wheat was cultivated according to different systems of methods of basic tillage during the application of nitrogen fertilizer and without it. The maximum possible yield and the best economic and energy indicators for all varieties has the variant 4 with a system of combinations methods of basic tillage, where traditional moldboard treatment to a depth of 20...22 cm with a conventional reversible plow is carried out under spring wheat (28... 30 cm after one rotation of the crop rotation), finemoldboard treatment shallow dump processing to a depth of 14...16 cm with a topsoil plow bottom - under millet, disking in 2 passes to a depth of 8... 10 cm under a fallow. The largest yield (3.56 t/ha), the level of profitability (99.8 %), the lowest cost expenses per 1 ton of grain (5020.06 rubles/t), labor expenses (1.48 people-hour), fuel expenses (18.04 kg) and energy expenses (3346 MJ) has the ZhemchuzhinaPovolzhya variety.

Measurement and evaluation method of farmland microtopography feature information based on 3D LiDAR and inertial measurement unit

Soil surface roughness (SSR) is an important indicator that characterizes the microtopography feature of farmland after tillage. It has a high practical value for sowing and seedling raising, farmland management, and drainage irrigation in agricultural production. The traditional method often is prone to damage the surface microstructure and results in low efficiency and accuracy. In this study, a new method was proposed to address the limitations of traditional measurement methods of SSR. The proposed measurement and evaluation method of farmland microtopography feature information based on 3D lidar and inertial measurement unit (IMU) could be used to quickly obtain the global point cloud map containing the height data of the test field. Taking three different tillage methods of farmland as the research object, the surface root mean square height (RMSH), correlation length (CL), and their ratio were selected as roughness parameters to explore the anisotropy of microtopography features in different directions. The measurement method was then used to study the effects of sampling processing methods (number, interval, and length) on the measurement accuracy in both OX and OY directions. The results indicate that under the same accuracy requirements, for the 2 × 2 m area, the farmland with different microtopography features needs to be processed with different sample numbers, sample intervals, and sample lengths. The optimal combination of sample parameters for Test field I is sample number of 50, sample interval of 120 mm, and sample interval of 1600 mm, and that in Test field II is sample number of 50, sample interval of 160 mm, and sample interval of 1800 mm. For Test field III, the optimal combination is sample number of 100, sample interval of 40 mm, and sample length of 1200 mm. The experimental results compared with the traditional method illustrate the high accuracy and good feasibility of the proposed method for measuring and evaluating the microtopography feature information of the farmland. The results of the study help to understand the microtopography features and its parameterization of the farmland after tillage, which could further reveal the role and significance of SSR parameters in objectively evaluating farmland tillage quality and optimizing farmland management.

Influence of by-products under different methods of soil cultivation on the yield of winter rape in the Western Forest-Steppe

The absence of a clear position on the application of a particular method of basic tillage and the use of post-harvest residues in crop rotation draws attention to the minimisation of tillage. Therefore, the need to substantiate and develop efficient energy-saving tillage technologies and the use of by-products in crop rotation is quite important and remains relevant. The aim of the research is to study the impact of by-products and soil cultivation, which will create optimal conditions for the development of winter rape in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research was carried out during 3 rotations of 4 crop rotation in a stationary field experiment of the Institute of Agriculture of Western Polissya of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences in 2009-2020. Against the background of soil cultivation, including ploughing, disc cultivation to a depth of 10-12 and 6-8 cm, two methods of using crop residues of crop rotation were studied - diversion and use as fertiliser with the addition of compensatory nitrogen in the amount of N10 per 1 tonne. The results showed that when growing winter rape with the removal of the predecessor straw from the field during ploughing to a depth of 20-22 cm and disc cultivation to a depth of 10-12 and 6-8 cm, the soil density at a depth of 0-10 cm was 1.22-1.28, 1.23-1.28 and 1.23-1.35 g/cm³, respectively, and at a depth of 10-20 cm – 1.26-1.30, 1.30-1.35 and 1.32-1.36 g/cm³. The use of straw as an organic fertiliser led to a decrease in the bulk mass of all the studied soil layers under any method of treatment, but at the same time contributed to an increase in the number of weeds, which increased with a decrease in the depth of treatment. On average, over the three years of crop rotation, the seed yields for ploughing by 20-22 cm, disking by 10-12 cm and disking by 6-8 cm against the background of straw alienation were 2.91, 2.83 and 2.59 t/ha, respectively, and for incorporating it into the soil – 3.04, 2.88 and 2.72 t/ha. As noted in the studies, tillage and fertilisation using non-commodity crop residues increase the soil protection effect, significantly reduce the negative impact of weeds in crops, improve soil fertility and increase the productivity of crops in the rotation

Rotational Tillage Practices to Deal with Soil Compaction in Carbon Farming

Conservation tillage practices, such as reduced tillage and no-tillage, have recently garnered significant attention as core elements of the regenerative agriculture and carbon farming concepts. By minimizing mechanical soil disturbance, these practices preserve soil carbon and facilitate CO2 fixation in the soil. Despite the widely acknowledged benefits, many farmers still approach no-tillage with skepticism. Their primary concerns are weed management and soil compaction. While weeds can be effectively controlled with the deployment of integrated weed management strategies, urgent soil compaction problems can be rapidly resolved only with mechanical interventions. That is why many no-till farmers resort to occasional heavy tillage, in a scheme characterized as rotational tillage, inadvertently sacrificing their regenerative assets in soil carbon. This is also a pivotal issue within carbon farming: the fate of soil carbon at the end of a compliant scheme focused on carbon fixation. The present study explores data of soil organic matter (SOM), soil penetration resistance (PR), and dry bulk density (DBD) from the initial, six-year period of a long-term tillage experiment in Greece. During that period, modifications to the experimental design allowed diverse combinations of five tillage methods (conventional tillage, 3 reduced tillage methods, and no-tillage). The findings indeed underscore the farmers’ concerns about soil compaction. High levels of PR and DBD were observed even at the topsoil layer of the no-tillage (NT). Conventional, moldboard plowing (MP) or reduced, chisel plowing (CP) applied after four years of uninterrupted no-tillage ameliorated most of the soil compaction; however, at the same time, this induced unfavorable consequences for SOM. In contrast, NT applied permanently for six years resulted in a substantial enhancement in SOM that reached 2.24%, for a sampling depth 0–0.30 m compared to 1.54% for permanent MP. When no-tillage was rotated with plowing in the fifth year, almost 50% of the sequestered carbon was lost and the SOM dropped to 1.87%. Nevertheless, the amount of SOM observed at the deeper 0.15–0.30 m layer was greater compared to permanent NT. This suggests that while plowing induced some loss of SOM, it also facilitated the uniform distribution into the soil profile, in contrast with the accumulation in the topsoil at prolonged NT. The permanent CP method and the NT/CP rotation provided comparative outcomes in terms of both soil compaction and soil carbon sequestration with the rotational NT/MP scheme, while all the other tillage combinations were inferior.

Effect of microrelief features of tillage methods under different rainfall intensities on runoff and soil erosion in slopes

Tillage methods play a crucial role in controlling rainwater partitioning and soil erosion. This study utilized rainfall simulation experiments to investigate the impact of four tillage methods (manual digging (MD), manual hoeing (MH), traditional ploughing (TP), and ridged ploughing (RP)) on runoff and soil erosion at the plot scale. The smooth slope (SS) was used as a benchmark. Rainfall intensities of 30, 60, 90, and 120 mm h−1 were considered. The study revealed that tillage altered rainwater distribution into depression storage, infiltration, and runoff. Tillage reduces runoff and increases infiltration. The four tillage methods (30–73%) increased the proportion of rainwater converted to infiltration to varying degrees compared to the SS (22–53%). Microrelief features influenced the role of tillage methods in soil erosion. Surface roughness and depression storage accounted for 79% of the variation in sediment yield. The four tillage methods reduced runoff by 2.1–64.7% and sediment yield by 2.5–77.2%. Moreover, increased rainfall intensity weakens the ability of tillage to control soil erosion. When rainfall intensity increased to 120 mm h−1, there was no significant difference in runoff yield among RP, TP, MH, and SS. Therefore, assessing the effectiveness of tillage in reducing soil erosion should consider changes in rainfall intensity. Additionally, the cover management (C) factor of the RUSLE was used to assess the effects of different tillage methods on soil loss. Overall, the C factor values for tilled slopes are in the order MH > TP > RP > MD with a range of 0.23–0.97. As the surface roughness increases, the C factor tends to decrease, and the two are exponential functions (R2 = 0.86). These studies contribute to our understanding of how different tillage methods impact runoff and soil erosion in sloped farmland and provide guidance for selecting appropriate local manual tillage methods.

Above Ground Emergence and Floristic Composition of Weeds in Relation to Tillage and Weed Management Practices in Maize and Cowpea

Background: Weeds are one of the most important elements influencing crop productivity. Tillage practices have a significant effect on the weed seed bank and the appearance of weeds, both of which have a direct impact on farm productivity. Different tillage strategies based on ploughing depth, as well as weed control practices, change the dynamics of weed seeds in the soil. This research will aid in the development of integrated weed control methods by investigating the interaction between tillage and weed management practices. Methods: Field trials were carried out in two seasons, Summer and Kharif 2022, using a split-plot design with three tillage methods and four weed management practices. The treatments were replicated three times. Result: Among the different tillage treatments Mouldboard plough fb Cultivator fb Rotovator recorded the lowest weed density. With respect to weed management methods, pre- and post-emergence herbicide application and hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS recorded the lower weed density. Interaction effects of tillage and weed management practices resulted in lower weed density in Mouldboard plough fb Cultivator fb Rotovator with herbicide application and Mouldboard plough fb Cultivator fb Rotovator with hand weeding. Highest weed density was recorded under Cultivator fb Rotovator in unweeded control. With respect to relative density, among the broad-leaved weeds (BLW) Trianthema portulacastrum and Dactyloctenium aegyptium in grasses dominated among the weed species in 30 and 60 DAS respectively. From the present study it was concluded that the Mouldboard plough fb Cultivator fb Rotovator with hand weeding twice or herbicide application reduces the weed emergence from the soil weed seed bank.

DENSITY OF THE STRUCTURE AND HARDNESS OF THE SOIL FOR GROWING WINTER WHEAT

The article highlights the results of research on over-compaction of the arable layer of the soil during the cultivation of winter wheat. When taking care of winter crops, the greater part of the researched fields begins to be affected by various technical measures in the fall, when at the beginning of September, the corresponding areas are prepared for sowing the crop after harvesting one or another predecessor. As a result, the agronomic value of the fields where the leading culture of modern agriculture of our country is grown is significantly reduced, as well as the productive capacity of the root system of winter wheat significantly deteriorates, which is reflected in a correspondingly negative way on the quality characteristics of plants and harvest.
 In the studies that took place during 2018-2021, it was established that the method of the main tillage of the soil, namely its depth and the terms of determination in the arable layer, significantly influenced the final bulk mass of its layers. A rather significant deterioration of the structural agrophysical state of the soil and an increase in the hardness of the latter in variants with shallow disc tillage by 10-12 cm is explained, first of all, by the formation of a large dispersion of its seed layer (0-10 cm) and compaction of layers of 10-20 cm in comparison with shelfless plowing.
 According to the research results, it was established that in all layers of the soil, when the latter was worked with disc harrows of the BDT-3 type, on average, its volume mass increased in the following parameters compared to tillage: 0-10 cm - by 0.13 g/cm3; 10-20 cm - by 0.09 g/cm3; 20-30 cm - by 0.01 g/cm3 and 0-30 cm, respectively, by 0.09 g/cm3.
 Thus, our research has proven the preservation of the regularity of a larger volumetric mass of the soil when performing a shallow disc tillage of 10-12 cm in comparison with plowing without a shelf of 14-16 cm.

Energy consumption and its indices under different tillage methods in mungbean (Vigna radiata)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system in semi-arid conditions of Haryana

A field experiment was conducted during 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bawal (Rewari), to study the energy consumption and indices under different tillage methods in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. The treatments included 9 tillage combinations for crop establishment under mungbean–wheat cropping system (MWCS), viz. zero-tillage mungbean (ZTM) followed by (fb) zero-tillage wheat (ZTW), ZTM fb reduced tillage wheat (RTW), ZTM fb conventional tillage wheat (CTW), reduced tillage mungbean (RTM) fb ZTW, RTM fb RTW, RTM fb CTW, conventional tillage mungbean (CTM) fb ZTW, CTM fb RTW, CTM fb CTW, laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications. The yields of mungbean sown after ZTW were higher (775–785 kg/ha) than after RTW (756–783 kg/ha) or CTW (753–780 kg/ha). However, the highest grain yield (5,367 and 5,025 kg/ha during 2019–20 and 2020–21, respectively) of wheat was obtained under ZTM–ZTW. Energy inputs under ZTM–ZTW were lowest, which saves 18% of energy incurred in CTM–CTW. Output: input ratio of energy was highest (10.13) under ZTM–ZTW and lowest (7.67) under CTM–CTW. Zero-tillage resulted in the minimum specific energy (energy consumed/kilogram of grain production) in mungbean (4.37–5.16 MJ/kg) and wheat (2.94–3.10 MJ/kg). Zero-tillage based establishment of MWCS was realized to be sustainable for resource conservation as well as crop productivity.

The evaluation of total weed density and seed bank of agricultural landscapes as an example of the Steppe Zone of Ukraine

A high degree of weed infestation of agricultural ecosystems poses a significant threat to high crop yields, which determines the problem of weed control as one of the most urgent in steppe agriculture. The research aims to assess the level of total weed density and seed bank of various components of agroecosystems in the steppe zone of Ukraine. The methods used to determine the species composition of weeds, their quantitative and weight accounting and harmfulness were statistical and mathematical. It has been established that the main reason for the high negative impact of weeds is the weed seed bank of soils, which reaches 452 million seeds per hectare in land being actively used for agriculture and 11 million hectares in natural ecosystems. In agroecosystems, the decisive factor for effective regulation of weed seed banks is the sustainability of crops (as part of an ecosystem dominated by 1 plant species), methods of basic tillage and measures to prevent the generative productivity of weeds. According to the impact on the yield of winter wheat, corn, sunflower and spring barley, different tillage systems (ploughing, disc tillage, no-tillage) in the crop rotation were significant, where the no-tillage system was inferior to disc tillage, depending on the fertilization background, by 0.21-0.22 t/ha and ploughing – by 0.19-0.40 t/ha due to increased weed infestation of crops, as well as the presence of a significant amount of carrion and leaf mass of the predecessor on the field surface. The practical value is determined by an improvement of the system of weed control in crop rotations of adaptive agriculture and environmental safety

Awareness and Use of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Smallholder Farming Systems

Sustainable land management (SLM) practices are often touted as a vehicle for simultaneously increasing agricultural productivity and food security in rural areas. In Eastern Zambia, numerous initiatives such as the Zambia Integrated Forest Landscape Project (ZIFLP) have been implemented. Yet, empirical data suggest relatively low levels of SLM uptake in the smallholder farming sector. Therefore, the broad objective of this study was to estimate the relationship between smallholder farmer awareness of SLM technologies and land allocated to SLM at the farm level. We hypothesized the following: H1: Increased farmer awareness of SLM practices leads to more land allocated to SLM activities in Zambia’s Eastern Province; and H2: Adoption of specific SLM practices influences the extent of land allocated to SLM. Using an intra-household cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 761 randomly selected households from 11 chiefdoms of the Eastern Province. The Heckman selection procedure was used to analyze the study’s overarching hypothesis. Findings showed that farmers were generally conversant with SLM as a construct (>90%), with choices being influenced by gender. Conservation agriculture in the form of crop rotations, use of manure, mixed cropping, tree planting, and minimum tillage methods were the most commonly known SLM technologies among farmers. Findings also indicated that awareness is an important antecedent in the use of SLM practices (χ2 = 76.6, p = 0.00), with greater access to extension being positively associated with farmer awareness (p < 0.05). The land allotted to SLM hinged on crop diversity, ownership of different types of livestock, and access to agricultural extension. These findings suggest that long-term commitments to training farmers in SLM is critical. This will be achieved when there is coherence in the information on SLM being given to farmers by all the actors working in the region.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF MAIZE CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE TRANS-URALS REGION

Maise is a promising crop that stabilises crop production in the arid climatic conditions of the Trans-Urals region. To obtain maise feed in this region, especially given the short frost-free period, earlymaturing hybrids are cultivated, and technologies that allow for stable yields are used, typically intensive ones that involve active weed control (which is particularly relevant for row crops) and optimisation of the plant nutrition system. With the systematic increase in the prices of production inputs, primarily herbicides, mineral fertilisers, and fuel and lubricants, it is essential to consider the economic efficiency of technologies in specific conditions. This research aims to provide an economic assessment of various intensity levels of maise cultivation technologies in the Trans-Urals region under modern market conditions and establish economically efficient weed control methods. A comparison of productivity and economic indicators for extensive, regular, and intensive technologies was presented against three primary soil tillage methods: ploughing, minimal, and no primary (autumn) tillage. Comprehensive measures for protecting maise from weeds at different levels of soil tillage minimisation were shown. The economic efficiency of maise cultivation technologies was calculated at 2008 and 2022 prices. It was found that due to the faster rise in prices of chemical inputs compared to fuel and lubricant prices, the economic efficiency of mechanical weed control methods for maise is increasing. Despite a significant increase in fertiliser prices, their application under maise remains highly efficient, confirming the economic advantage of intensive technologies over extensive ones.

The effect of the basic tillage system on soybean weediness in the right-bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Goal. To improve the system of soybean crops weed control under different methods of tillage.
 Methods. Field and laboratory experiment, mathematical and statistical method to assess the reliability of the obtained results.
 Results. The researched species composition of weeds in soybean crops included 12 species of 7 families, with a predominance of dicotyledonous species (80.1—93.3%), regardless of the tillage method the proportion of the monocotyledonous species made up 6.7—19.9%. The following species were most common: Chenopodium album L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Polygonum lapathifolia L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Pal. Beauv. and Setaria glauca (L.) Pal. Beauv. The maximum weediness of soybean crops before herbicides application was observed under the moldboardless main tillage use (to a depth of 10—12 cm) and amounted to 481.5 pcs./m2, of which dicotyledonous species made up 81.7% and monocots — 18.3%. The lowest number of weeds (at the level of 254 pcs./m2) was observed under the No-till technology, the share of dicot species made up 80.1%. With the use of the moldboard tillage in soybean crops before herbicides use, the total number of weeds was 425.5 pcs./ m2, where annual dicotyledonous species predominated (93.3%). Soybean crops subject to herbicides use on the moldboard tillage variant formed a 2.49 t/ha yield, which was 50% higher than that of the weeded control variant. The use of the moldboardless tillage and No-till technology ensured productivity in the range of 2.34—2.40 t/ ha.
 Conclusions. Regardless of the soil tillage method, dicotyledonous weed species occupied from 80.1 to 93.3% of the soybean crops, with the predominance of Chenopodium album L., the share of which was 66.6—77.3% and Polygonum lapathifoliа L. — 17.6—24.9%. The use of various methods of soil tillage and weed control ensures elimination of weeds at the level of 91.0—91.5% and maintaining productivity in the range of 45—50%.

Influence of tillage and nutrient management strategies on rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity, nutrient uptake and soil properties

A field experiment was conducted during 2019 to study the effect of tillage and nutrient management strategies on rice productivity, nutrient uptake and soil properties in Eastern Indo Gangetic Plains (EIGP) of India. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. Nine treatment combinations comprising of three tillage methods in the main plots viz., Conventional tillage, Zero tillage and Zero tillage + Residue management and three nutrient management practices viz., recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), SSNM based on Nutrient expert and 60 % RDN + green seeker guided N application (GSGN) + 100% RDP + 100% RDK in the subplot. The results of the study revealed that residue management with zero tillage practice resulted in 14.03 % and 9.27 % higher grain and straw yield than conventional tillage respectively. Zero tillage with residue management increased nutrient uptake to the maximum of 86.71 kg N, 24.62 kg P and 99.99 kg K/ha as compared to conventional tillage. Among nutrient management, SSNM based on Nutrient expert exhibited the highest grain (4.5 t/ha ) and straw yields (6.4 t/ha ), while 60 % RDN+ GSGN + 100% RDP + 100% RDK showed at par of these values. Adoption of SSNM based on Nutrient expert resulted in maximum N, P and K uptake. Different tillage and nutrient management regimes did not affect the soil properties significantly. Thus, zero tillage and residue management with SSNM based on Nutrient expert is a viable management practice for improving productivity under DSR in EIGP of India.

Sorghum and cowpea productivity as influenced by tillage, cropping system with soil amendment in Centre-West Region of Burkina Faso

Improving crop productivity requires integrated management of soil fertility. This study aimed to assess the effects of tillage and the cropping system with soil amendment on the productivity of sorghum and cowpea. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with the treatments arranged in a split plot and three repetitions. Four tillage methods were allocated to the main plots and four cropping systems combined with four types of soil amendment were allocated to the sub plots. The results showed that ploughing and tied-ridging generated higher grain yields of sorghum than minimum tillage and manual zaï. The two cropping systems 1) 2 rows of sorghum alternated with 2 rows of semi-erect habit cowpea and 2) 1 or 2 row(s) of sorghum alternated with 1 or 2 row(s) of creeping habit cowpea in interaction with soil amendments generated higher grain yields for sorghum ranging from 895 to 1097 kg ha-1 and stover yields ranging from 1913 to 2370 kg ha-1 in the third year of study. Minimum tillage and ploughing proved to be more efficient in improving cowpea grain yields in the cropping system of 1 row of sorghum alternated with 1 row of creeping cowpea with soil amendment. These results show that tillage and crop association with soil amendments are likely to optimize agricultural productivity.

USE OF HERVICIDES FOR WEED CONTROL AND THEIR EFFECTS ON YIELD PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L)

This experiment was carried out in the research farm of the Regional Wheat Research Institute, Shampur, Rajshahi during the period from November last week 2019 to April first week 2020 in order to the find out “USE OF HERVICIDES FOR WEED CONTROL AND THEIR EFFECTS ON YIELD PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L) .’’ Wheat sown both conventional and strip method. In this research yield and yield contributing characters were found and maximum wheat production observed by under strip tillage method (4.48 t/ha). In randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in both tillage systems with some herbicides were tested for weed control treatment. The maximum number of effective and total tiller per meter square, 1000 grain weight, were observed in T4(Affinity, BD.) herbicides for weed control treatment. As a result, maximum grain yield was obtained in T4 treatment. The 2nd maximum yield was recorded in T6 (Axial + Affinity, India) herbicides for weed control treatment. The lowest grain and other yield contributing characters were found in T9 (Weedy check) condition. The effect of interaction between different method of cultivation and weed control treatment were insignificant for all yield and yield contributing characters except plant height, grain yield and straw yield.

Soil-cultivating Unit With a Device for Automated Control of the Working Width

A soil-cultivating unit with an innovative device for automated width adjustment is presented to provide a highly efficient soil-moisture-saving method of tillage when cultivating spring crops. The use of the developed device will improve the quality of soil cultivation in various conditions, the stability of the cultivator, reduce traction resistance, and the economic efficiency of cultivating crops, while reducing operating costs.

Mechanisms of soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity in black soil farmland

Soil respiration is the process of decomposition of organic matter in soil and microbial metabolism to produce carbon dioxide. In the context of climate warming and degradation of agricultural soil fertility, it becomes crucial to explore the mechanisms of soil respiration to increase carbon sequestration. In this paper, five biochar applications (0, 3.79, 7.58, 11.36, 15.15 t/ha) and two tillage methods (shallow ploughing, deep ploughing) were set up to explore the mechanism of soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity by studying the effects of tillage methods and different amounts of biochar application on soil properties, soil enzyme activities, soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity during the growing season of soybeans in the black soil area. The results showed that soil respiration rate increased with biochar application in the low biochar application range; the opposite trend was observed for high biochar application beyond the threshold (11.36 t/ha). The application of 11.36 t/ha of biochar amount had the strongest promotion effect on soil respiration, reaching 2.42 μmol m−2·s−1 in the shallow ploughing treatment and increasing 0.32 μmol m−2·s−1 in the deep ploughing compared to the shallow ploughing. The application of biochar significantly increased the activity of nitrogen and phosphorus enzymes and had an inhibitory effect on carbon cycle enzymes; the increased activity of nitrogen and phosphorus cycle enzymes provided sufficient substrate for microbial respiration and thus increased soil respiration, and the decrease in the enzymatic reaction of carbon cycle enzymes led to a decrease in temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensitivity of deep ploughing (2.18–2.59) got a more substantial reduction than that of shallow ploughing (2.34–3.53), which indicates that deep ploughing treatments can better reduce the mineralization of organic carbon than shallow tillage. Meanwhile, the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration reached a minimum with the application of 7.58 t/ha of biochar, which was reduced by 16% under deep ploughing treatment compared to the control, 33% under shallow ploughing treatment compared to the control, and also reduced by 27.27% under deep ploughing compared to shallow ploughing, which suggests that the addition of biochar reduces the loss of carbon to a certain extent. This study is important for assessing the effects of tillage practices and biochar combinations on carbon sequestration in agricultural soils in black soil areas.

Exploring the effects of subsoiling tillage under various irrigation regimes on the evapotranspiration and crop water productivity of winter wheat using RZWQM2

Food security is an important pre-requisite for human well-being; however, water shortages and poor quality of arable land threaten food security in the North China Plain (NCP). Subsoiling and proper irrigation can improve soil structure and increase crop yield. This study investigated the effects of two tillage methods (rotary tillage at 15 cm depth, R15; subsoiling at 35 cm depth, S35) combined with three irrigation treatments (no irrigation during the winter wheat growing season, I0; 60 mm irrigation at the jointing stage, I1; 60 mm irrigation at both the jointing and heading stages, I2) on soil moisture dynamics, evapotranspiration, and winter wheat yield. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) was adopted after calibration and validation base on a field experiment. The results showed that the normalized root mean square errors (calibration and test) between the actual and simulated values of soil water storage (SWS), evapotranspiration (ET), and yield were 7.45–10.87%, 3.80–7.21%, and 5.38–14.15%, respectively. Subsoiling improved winter wheat soil moisture conditions, yield, and crop water productivity (CWP), and irrigation during the winter wheat growing seasons increased crop yield (I2 > I1 > I0) and CWP (I1 > I2 > I0). The best yield treatment during the 2020–2022 winter wheat growing seasons was S35-I2. However, the CWP of S35-I1 was 2.67% higher than that of S35-I2. Tillage methods change the ET structure of winter wheat fields. Compared to rotary tillage, subsoiling reduced actual ET by 16.11% and increased actual transpiration by 10.44%. The results of this study indicate that subsoiling at a depth of 35 cm and 60 mm irrigation at the jointing stage could improve the CWP of winter wheat in the NCP.

Effect of straw return on soil respiration in dryland agroecosystem of China: A meta-analysis

In agroecosystems, straw return is considered an important agricultural management practice influencing soil respiration. However, the impact of straw return on soil respiration is equivocal and the underlying mechanisms underpinning any responses remain unclear. To address this, we synthesized 86 recently published papers on dryland agroecosystems in China, which comprise approximately 74% of the agricultural land area, using a meta-analysis approach and explored the influence of straw return on soil respiration and the underlying mechanisms involved. Straw return resulted in a 13.5% increase in soil respiration, a 9.4% increase in soil moisture, a 10.4% increase in crop yield, a 18.9% increase in SOC (soil organic carbon), and a 2.6% decrease in soil temperature. Compared to conventional tillage without straw return treatment, the increase in soil respiration in response to straw return was closely related to modifications in soil temperature, soil moisture, SOC, and crop yield (P < 0.05). The contribution of the different drivers to increases in soil respiration in response to straw return showed a trend of crop yield > soil temperature > SOC > soil moisture. In addition, straw mulching, crop planting system, tillage method, and fertilization modified the effect of straw return on soil respiration. The increase in soil respiration was less when straw was used as a mulch (12.9%), compared to when it was incorporated into the soil (18.8%). The cropping system also influenced the effect of straw return on soil respiration and was increased by 21.1% in inter-crops, and by 17.3% and 11.0% in monocultures and rotations treatments, respectively. Our results also showed that the effect of straw return on soil respiration was larger in deep tillage treatments than in shallow tillage treatments (26.9% vs.18.7%). In addition, the effect of straw return on soil respiration was also larger in fertilized treatment compared to unfertilized one (12.7% vs. 0.5%). However, this depended on the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied rates and was higher (14.8%) with low (<300 kg ha−1) application rates compared to high (≧300 kg ha−1) ones (2.5%). Therefore, in dryland agroecosystems in China, biological factors, especially those related to crop yield, may be a more important factor regulating the effect of straw return on soil respiration. However, straw mulching, crop planting system, tillage method, and fertilization can modify the effect of straw return on soil respiration.

Numerical Simulation of Spiral Cutter–Soil Interaction in Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage

Deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) is a new tillage method which combines the advantages of deep tillage and rotary tillage. However, limited research has been conducted on a critical component of the deep vertical rotary tiller, namely the spiral cutter. In clay loam, there are a lot of large clods in the topsoil layer after tillage, and the cutting resistance and vibration of the cutter are substantial. To reveal the reasons behind this, a simulation model of a spiral cutter–soil system was developed using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). Using this model, the working process and force of a spiral cutter were thoroughly investigated. The results show that soil fragmentation, swelling, and loosening primarily result from the combined effects of the separation cutting, velocity difference cutting, auxiliary cutting, and the spiral blade’s lifting effect on soil. The reasons for the larger clods are that topsoil furrow slices are larger and the velocity difference cutting is insufficient. The substantial resistance of the cutter is mainly due to the greater resistance of the blade and the bottom edge, and too many blades cutting the soil simultaneously. Furthermore, due to the asymmetry of the cutter’s structure, the resistance’s amplitude reaches 1963.5 N, which causes the cutter’s large vibration. These findings would be an important basis for optimal cutter design.