Ploughless Tillage Research Articles

Tillage influence on agrophysical soil properties and crop productivity in the irrigated conditions of the steppe zone of Ukraine

The main goal of the study was to establish the influence of various tillage systems on the agrophysical properties of dark-chestnut soil under short-grain crop rotation in the irrigated conditions of southern Ukraine. The research was carried out during 2021-2022 in a stationary experiment on a four-field crop rotation: grain maize – winter rapeseed – winter wheat – soybeans. The experimental field was in the semi-arid steppe climate zone at the Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Three tillage systems were studied for their influence on soil bulk density, porosity, and water permeability, namely: mouldboard-differentiated ploughing tillage; differentiated chisel tillage; and differentiated ploughless tillage with soil slitting. Soil bulk density was determined using the core method. Soil porosity was calculated as the ratio of total bulk density to solid fraction bulk density. Water infiltration rates, established through the water absorption test method, were used to measure soil water permeability. The results of the study were statistically analysed using the common ANOVA procedure with Fisher’s least significant difference test at P<0.05. In addition to the agrophysical parameters of the soil, the energy output of the crop rotation was assessed. It was established that mouldboard tillage did not provide significant benefits in terms of bulk density and soil porosity. However, ploughing showed the best results for soil water permeability across all crops in the rotation. The highest energy output of crop rotation (119.1 GJ/ha) was recorded for the ploughless-differentiated tillage system with soil slitting, whereas the mouldboard ploughing and chisel tillage systems produced somewhat lower energy yields of 112.0 and 108.6 GJ/ha, respectively. Therefore, ploughless-differentiated tillage with soil slitting is the most effective option for short-grain crop rotations in irrigated conditions of southern Ukraine, in terms of creating optimal soil agrophysical properties and achieving the highest crop productivity

Aftereffect of Seven Years of Straw Handling on Soil Sustainability and Vitality

Straw, as organic material, contains macronutrients and a wide range of micronutrients. Properly treated straw can become a valuable source for soil improvement and crop nutrition needs. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, in 2014–2021 on Cambisol. On a shallow ploughless tillage background, eight treatments were investigated: chopped straw + ammonium nitrate (CSA), chopped straw + ammonium nitrate + NPK (CSA+F), chopped straw + microorganisms (CSM), chopped straw + microorganisms + NPK (CSM+F), straw removed, not fertilized (SR), straw removed, fertilized (SR+F), chopped straw, not fertilized (CS), chopped straw, fertilized (CS+F). We hypothesized that treatment of straw with microbiological products in combination with mineral NPK fertilizers is a more efficient technology than treatment/non-treatment of straw with ammonium nitrate, either with or without NPK fertilizers. The aim of this work was to investigate the aftereffects of seven years use of mineral NPK fertilizers and bioproducts containing soil bacteria and microscopic fungi (Bacillus megaterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Trichoderma reesei) in combination with straw management on soil sustainability (soil C sources, soil water release characteristics, pore-size distribution, aggregate stability, crop yielding capability) and soil vitality (CO2 exchange rate-NCER). It was revealed that NCER was highest in the treatment CSM+F (Bacillus megaterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Trichoderma reesei + NPK). It was 32.95% higher than in CSA (chopped straw without fertilizers) and 45.34% higher than in CSA+F (chopped straw + ammonium nitrate + NPK). Bioproducts applied favored soil vitality in general by exhibiting higher soil microbiological activity. As a result, a healthy and more viable Cambisol produced a higher winter wheat grain yield.

A comprehensive analysis of soil health indicators in a long‐term conservation tillage experiment

AbstractConservation tillage (CT) is a ploughless tillage with a reduced number of operations, and its positive effect on soil functions and health is widely known. Multivariate analyses are required to choose indicators that adequately characterize the changes in soil health. However, there is little research on the comprehensive analysis of the full spectrum of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Therefore, we examined 21 soil parameters in a long‐term CT experiment conducted in Hungary. Four pairs of similarly sized CT and conventional ploughing tillage (PT) plots were set up in 2003 on Luvisols. The soil samples were collected after 17 years. The total organic carbon (TOC) increased significantly in the 0–15 cm layer at CT sites compared to those in PT, indicating a total increase of 5.22 t ha−1 TOC stock. In addition, the increasing biological activity and improved soil structure were the most important processes at the CT sites. Furthermore, more complex humic substances with higher molecular weights are characteristic of water‐extractable organic matter (WEOM) as a result of CT. The potentially available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were also measured with a relatively high response ratio. Slowly changing parameters, such as cation exchange capacity and base saturation, are important soil physical and chemical parameters, but are not good indicators of the impact of tillage practices. Based on principal component analysis, we suggest the use of water‐extractable organic C, amino‐nitrogen, water‐stable aggregates, available P and K and photometric analysis of WEOM to identify the soil improving processes.

Peas and Barley Grown in the Strip-Till One Pass Technology as Row Intercropping Components in Sustainable Crop Production

Simplified, ploughless tillage and multi-species, multifunctional crop production are important components of sustainable agriculture. Technologies that combine these components can play an even greater pro-ecological role in modern agriculture. The claim is made that row intercropping of spring barley and peas, along with strip tillage, is an alternative to traditional methods of sowing cereals and legumes. This hypothesis was verified in a three-year field experiment in which row intercropping of barley and peas (alternating every row) was compared with traditional mixed-crop, within-row cropping (plants of each species in each row) and pure sowing of each species. Row intercropping of barley and peas using strip-till, one-pass technology, as compared with mixed-crop, within-row, improved the uniformity of plant emergence and plant density of peas before harvesting and reduced weed infestation. The productivity of barley and peas was higher than with pure sowing by 8.5% and 10.2%, respectively, and the productivity of peas was also higher by 38.9% than when sowing in mixed-crop, within-row. The yield of barley grain/seeds and peas under row-intercropping was 1.75 t ha−1 higher than the yield of pea seeds with pure sowing, and 0.79 t ha−1 lower than the yield of barley in pure sowing. On the other hand, the yield of grain/seed protein under this mixture was similar to the pea protein yield with pure sowing and 109 kg ha−1 higher than the barley protein yield with pure sowing. The positive results should inspire further research to obtain a better understanding of the conditions and effects of growing grains with legumes with strip-till one-pass technology.

THE INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS AND THEIR MIXTURES ON SOIL AGROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN WINTER WHEAT

Intensive tillage accelerates soil erosion, reduces the content of organic matter and carbon in the soil. Scientists around the world talk extensively about soil conservation policies. The process of accumulation and maintenance of soil organic matter is important for the long-term preservation of agro-system productivity. Crop production technologies applied should increase carbon sequestration in the soil (Kaiser, Kalbitz, 2012; Baumhardt et al., 2015). The study was conducted in 2018–2019 in the winter wheat crop “Sailor”. An experiment with two factors was performed: preparations of biological origin and their mixtures were used with the application of different tillage technologies. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of biological preparations on soil agrochemical properties in winter wheat crop using different tillage technologies. The use of biological preparations and their mixtures, in many cases, increased the content of water-soluble (labile) carbon in the soil comparing compensatory nitrogen 8 kg t of straw, without biological preparations to stimulate straw mineralization . The content of labile carbon was particularly increased by mixtures of two preparations (Ruinex + Penergetic k, Ruinex + Azofix and Penergetic k + Azofix) using both tillage technologies: when applying no-tillage, the content of soluble carbon increased from 2.9% to 12.2%, and when using the mixtures in ploughless tillage – from 1.4% to 10.3. The combination of the three preparations increased the content of soluble carbon by 5.4% more in ploughless technology, in no-tillage – only 0.5%. The use of one-component biological preparations in ploughless tillage also increased the content of water-soluble carbon, and in no-tillage – reduced it but insignificantly.

The Combined Effect of Biochar and Mineral Fertilizer on Triticale Yield, Soil Properties under Different Tillage Systems.

This study examined the effect of study time, biochar dose, and fertilization-tillage system on the improvement of sandy loam physical-chemical properties and triticale grain yield. The soil properties (water holding capacity (WHC), wettability, moisture content (MC), organic matter content (SOM), pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored in short time intervals (after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months). Soil was tilled in two methods (shallow ploughless tillage and direct drilling), fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers, and amended with three hydrophobic pine wood biochar doses (0 t/ha; 5 t/ha; 15 t/ha). It was found that 15 t/ha biochar dose had the highest effect on the soil’s physical-chemical properties improvement (SOM increased by 33.7%, pH—by 6.84%, EC—by 23.4%, WHC—by 8.48%, and MC—by 21.8%) compared to the variants without biochar. Direct drilling, fertilization with NPK fertilizers and 15 t/ha biochar dose significantly influenced the rise of soil’s physical-chemical properties and triticale yield (3.51 t/ha).

Biological Indicators of Soil Quality under Different Tillage Systems in Retisol

Soil microorganism diversity has a close relation with soil function, and the changes in the composition of the soil microbial population can directly affect it. The aim of this study was to identify the bacterial community composition and determine the main soil chemical and physical properties formed by the different tillage systems. In the experiment, we analyzed the combination of three tillage systems and four organic fertilizers. Soil samples were taken from the two layers of the soil profile: the upper 0–10 cm and the lower 10–20 cm. The composition and diversity of soil bacterial communities were assessed by the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Results revealed that the highest biodiversity was found in the soil with shallow ploughless tillage and enriched with farmyard manure. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial species across all treatments. Their total abundance varied between 26% and 36% in the different analyzed agroecosystems. For the Dystric Bathygleyic Glossic Retisol, shallow ploughless tillage is the most suitable tillage system, as it creates favorable conditions for the accumulation of organic carbon in the soil under the Western Lithuania climate conditions.

Winter Wheat and Spring Barley Canopies under Strip-Till One-Pass Technology

Modern agriculture promotes non-inversion, ploughless tillage systems, and simplified plant cultivation methods. Environmentally friendly plant production technologies must nevertheless guarantee high yields of good quality. In the years 2017/18–2019/20, studies were carried out in which it was assumed that these conditions could be met by strip soil tillage with simultaneous application of fertilisers and paired-row sowing (strip-till one-pass (ST-OP). Two field experiments were conducted to compare two cereal cultivation technologies: ploughless, non-inversion tillage, seedbed preparation, entire-surface fertilisation, and narrowly spaced row sowing (PL-ES); and ST-OP, with two narrow spaced rows (12 cm apart) in a strip of tilled (paired-row sowing), fertilised soil, and a 24.4-cm-wide inter-row of untilled soil. Fields of winter wheat and spring barley were investigated, assessing plant density and spatial variation, plant height, yield components, and yield. The morphological and physiological indices of the plants and canopies determined were leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), leaf stomatal conductance, and relative chlorophyll content in leaves. The ST-OP technology provides uniform planting in the canopy, especially under conditions of insufficient rainfall. Fields of winter wheat and spring barley cultivated by this method featured shorter plants with more stalks with spikes, and spikes with greater weight and number of grains, than in the fields of cereals grown under PL-ES. The LAI and PAR indices in the narrow inter-rows were similar to the PL-ES technology and higher than in the wide, untilled inter-rows. Leaves of cereals grown under ST-OP contained more chlorophyll and had a higher leaf stomatal conductance. This technology, which provides higher winter wheat and spring barley yields, is an alternative to ploughless tillage with row sowing.

Method of Tillage with the Factor Determining the Quality of Organic Matter

The aim of this paper has been to determine the importance of the strip-till method for the content of carbon and the quality of organic matter as compared with plough and ploughless tillage. The question to answer has been to what extent strip-till can contribute to carbon sequestration and thus be part of the strategy of counteracting climate change. The research involved soil where conventional tillage (CT), strip-till (ST), and reduced tillage (RT) were applied. These systems differ completely in the way they affect the post-harvest residue, i.e., “plant residue management”. For air-dry soil samples, the following analyses were made: the content of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (Nt), content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved nitrogen (DNt), and the fractional composition of humus. In the surface layer the content of TOC ranged from 11.96 (CT) to 13.88 g kg−1 (RT) and DOC ranged from 209.9 (CT) to 230.5 mg kg−1 (ST). The share of the fraction of fluvic acids (0–15 cm layer) changed from 15.51% (RT) to 18.81% (ST), the share of the fraction of humic acids was 9.36% (ST) to 11.60%, and humins were 68.90% (CT) to 72.6% (RT). These results demonstrated that the tillage system determines the properties of the organic matter of soil. In the surface layer (0–15 cm) and in the 30–50 cm layer the properties of the soil organic matter under strip-till had a greater similarity to the soil under ploughless tillage than under conventional tillage. Ploughless tillage and strip-till considerably limited the leaching of carbon and nitrogen from the surface layer to the 30–50 cm layer. Strip-till, similarly to ploughless tillage, is the tillage method which can be crucial for the process of carbon sequestration.

Effect of the Tillage System on the Properties of Humic Acids of Soil of the Kujawy Region in Poland

The aim of this study has been to determine the properties of humic acids of soil depending on the tillage system applied. The study covered the soil where plough tillage, strip-till and ploughless tillage were used, and so the systems which differed completely in the way they affect the post-harvest residue, “plant residue management”. From averaged samples of soil humic acids (HAs) were extracted to identify their elemental composition, spectrometric properties for the UV-VIS and IR range as well as hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties.
 
 With the results one can conclude that the humic acids of the soil under plough tillage show a lower degree of humification as compared with HAs of ploughless tillage, whereas the parameters recorded for HAs of the soil with strip-till point to the similarity to HAs of soil with plough tillage and ploughless tillage. With that in mind, with some approximation, the degree of humification (maturity) of HAs can be ordered as follows: HAs with plough tillage < HAs with strip-till < HAs with ploughless tillage. Thus one can conclude that the tillage method combines two primary objectives; ensuring conditions favourable to plant growth and development and the effort to maintain the possibly highest humus stability.

Comparison of Two Techniques of Pattern Recognition in the Image Analysis-Based Wheat Stalk Length Characterization

Abstract The chaff quality or, more specifically, the distribution of stalk length after straw shredding during wheat harvest with a combined harvester is of significant interest for ploughless tillage practices. The currently applied characterization methods (manual length measurement or the cascade sieve analysis) are time-consuming and labour-intensive. Image analysis-based size characterization has the potential to solve these problems. In this study, two techniques of digital image processing, the well-known method of image moments (rectangular model) and a sub-pixel skeletonization approach (flow lines-tracing), were applied comparatively for stalk length measurement. Upon applying the rectangular model, the analyzed stalks were found to be longer than when the flow lines-tracing algorithm was applied. This was attributed to the unbiased decision criteria of the measuring method. A greater length of the stalk is to be expected in the main stalk than when the length of a twisted or branched stalk is measured from the edge length of a rectangular box that encloses it.

Impact of sustainable tillage on biophysical properties of Planosol and on faba bean yield

Decreased tillage intensity can contribute to a reduced agro-technological footprint and stabilise the negative impact of climate change, especially in leguminous crop cultivation. For this reason, a long-term (since 1988) stationary field experiment has been performed on silty loam Planosol (in Lithuania). The main objective of this study was to establish the influence of sustainable tillage and no-tillage systems on soil aggregate stability to water, penetration resistance, enzymatic activity, abundance of earthworm and faba bean grain yield. Five different tillage systems were investigated: conventional deep and shallow mouldboard ploughing, deep chiselling, shallow disking and no-tillage. No-tillage in faba bean cultivation significantly increased soil structural stability by 40–97%, saccharase content by 0.7–2.0 times, urease activity by 3–4 times, the average quantity of earthworm by 55% and the biomass by 3.6 times. The impact of other ploughless tillage systems on soil properties was positive but not as significant. Faba bean grain yield was more influenced by growing seasons than by different tillage methods.

The effect of cover crops on the yield of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in ploughless and conventional tillage

The experimental design included seven cover crop species and six kinds of soil tillage in the field cultivation of carrot. The use of cover crops had a positive impact on the yield of marketable roots of carrot in comparison with the cultivation without the cover crops. A significant increase of marketable yield was noted after phacelia, buckwheat, mustard and sunflower. The flat ploughless tillage significantly reduced the marketable yield of roots in comparison with traditional ploughing. The largest marketable yield of roots was obtained from cultivation on ridges after mixing the biomass of buckwheat or phacelia or mustard with the soil, and the smallest, after reduced spring tillage using aggregate without cover crops. The largest marketable yield in flat ploughless tillage was obtained when using grubber before winter, and the biomass of phacelia was mixed with soil. Growing carrot on the ridges had a positive influence on increasing the share of the marketable yield of roots in comparison with other variants of cultivation including the conventional tillage. The all cover crops with the exception of spring vetch significantly increased the share of marketable roots in the yield compared with cultivation without cover crops. The largest percentage of the marketable yield was noted after use of phacelia.

Energy efficiency of winter wheat in a long-term tillage experiment under Pannonian climate conditions

Abstract One goal in sustainable agriculture is to use fossil energy more efficiently in crop production. Information on energy consumption and efficiency of different soil tillage systems for developing energy-efficient farming systems with reduced impact on climate change is missing for the Pannonian Basin. This 12-year study on a silt loam chernozem investigated the energy efficiency of four tillage systems (mouldboard plough (MP), deep conservation tillage (CTd), shallow conservation tillage (CTs), no-tillage (NT)) in rotations taking thereby into account diesel fuel consumption, total energy input (made up of both direct and indirect inputs), grain yield, energy output, net-energy output, energy intensity and energy output/input-ratio. Input rates of fertilizer, herbicides and seeds remained constant, while values of diesel fuel consumption were measured for all tillage operations. Total diesel fuel consumption for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production was 59.8 L ha−1, 60.6 L ha−1, 48.5 ha−1 and 36.0 L ha−1 for MP, CTd, CTs and NT, respectively. Between 73% and 83% of total energy input was required by indirect energy (seeds, fertilizer, herbicides, machinery). MP and CTd each required a total energy input of about 9.3 GJ ha−1; the total energy input for CTs and NT was lower by 4.8% for both. Direct energy input (diesel and lubricant oil) was much lower with no-tillage (with 1.5 GJ ha−1) than with mouldboard plough (with 2.4 GJ ha−1), deep conservation tillage (with 2.5 GJ ha−1) and shallow conservation tillage (with 2.0 GJ ha−1). Grain yield and thus energy output were mainly influenced by year. The year effect on yield and energy efficiency parameters was larger than the tillage effect. Especially in dry years, ploughless tillage systems tended to respond with competitive yields. This resulted in an increase of energy efficiency parameters. Over all twelve years, winter wheat produced in the CTs tillage system reached the highest net-energy and output/input-ratio with the lowest energy intensity.

The effects of agrogenic transformation on soil profile morphology, organic carbon and physico-chemical properties in Retisols of Western Lithuania

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine changes in the morphological, physical and chemical properties of Retisols caused by their agrogenic transformation. The study carried out on Retisols on relatively natural and agrogenically affected land in 2016. Soil samples taken from the genetic horizons of all profiles to measure soil organic carbon, pH, hydromorphic and physical properties. Due to long-term, deep ploughing, the sequence of soil horizons in the Retisol profile had changed from O–Ah–El–ElBt to Ahp–ElBt. Intensive soil liming changed chemical properties and morphological features of Retisol. The clay and silt particles leached out of from the Ah and El horizons to the deeper layers due to illuviation and podsolization. The content of SOC in the 0–30 cm layer of the Ah horizon of agrogenically affected Retisol was 1.0%, and in the forest Retisol – 1.7%; however, forest Retisol was more acidic. Ploughing and no tillage management caused a reduction in total porosity, water holding capacity and plant available water content compared with the other land-uses. We conclude that the use of ploughless tillage on Retisol is not identical to the conditions of natural soil formation and soil fertility maintenance.

Changes in the weed communities as affected by different primary soil tillage and deep loosening

ABSTRACTLong-term soil cultivation at the same depth affects soil characteristics and crop productivity. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of a long-term different intensity soil tillage methods and deep loosening on weed number, weed agrobiological group and soil seed bank changes in till Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol soil under the climatic conditions of the Western Lithuania (geographical coordinates 55°43′38″N, 21°27′43″E). The study included different soil tillage methods (conventional ploughing, shallow ploughing and shallow ploughless tillage) and deep loosening. During investigational years, the greatest weed number in crops and the greatest weed seed number in the seed bank were determined in the soil reduced tillage (shallow ploughing and shallow ploughless tillage). The weed number in crops of conventional ploughing soil was 35.8% lover compared to reduced tillage soil. The weed seed number in the seed bank of conventional ploughing was 49.6% lover compared to reduced tillage Decreasing soil tillage intensity resulted in weed seeds concentration in the upper topsoil. A one-time deep loosening had a significant effect during the crop rotation: the weed number in crops and weed seed number in the seed bank were determined to have increased by 26.6% and 51.6% in conventional ploughing soil and by 11.9% and 23.2% shallow ploughless soil respectively. However, after deep loosening, the number of Poa annua in crops decreased 2.9 times in plots of conventional ploughing and 1.7 times – in plots of shallow ploughing soil.

Assessment of soil organic matter mineralization under various management practices

ABSTRACTMineralization is the main organic matter conversion process, which leads not only to preservation of organic matter in the soil but also to its sequestration. Soil organic matter has equal value as mineral part if we want to improve soil quality or increase the yield. Because of intensive farming, irresponsible use of mineral fertilizers and natural factors, soil organic matter is decreasing. To counteract this process, different soil-friendly management practices and techniques, such as shallow tillage, no-tillage or direct drilling and application of additional organic matter are used. The objective of the present study was to assess the changes in the intensity of soil organic matter mineralization as influenced by primary soil tillage of different intensity in combination with organic matter incorporation. Long-term studies showed that land management practices differentiated the soil into two layers: upper (0–10 cm) layer containing more moisture and nutrients and lower (10–20 cm) layer comprising less moisture and nutrients. The conditions of aeration in the arable soil layer did not change under the effect of ploughing. In this soil, the rate of mineralization was lower than that in the ploughless tillage treatment. The most active mineralization of soil organic matter in the ploughless tillage treatment occurred in the autumn period, when high level of rainfall promoted the loss of nutrients from the topsoil layer.

Effect of tillage, lime sludge and cover crop on soil physical state and growth of spring oilseed rape

Research was carried out during 2008–2010 at the Joniskėlis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry on a clay loam Endocalcary-Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). The aim of the present study was to determine effects of deep (20–23 cm) and shallow (15–17 cm) ploughing, ploughless tillage (10–12 cm), combinations of ploughless tillage (10–12 cm) with incorporation of lime sludge and cover crop (mixture of field pea, common vetch and blue lupine) for green manure and application of the same cover crop for mulch without autumn tillage on soil physical properties and growth of spring oilseed rape (Brasica napus L.) crop. After shallow ploughing the soil water content in seedbed (0–5 cm) for spring oilseed rape right after its sowing was significantly lower in droughty years (with duration of post-sowing period without rainfall for 18 and 20 days in 2008 and 2009, respectively) and crop emergence was worse compared to deep ploughing. Due to ploughless tillage, the soil water content in seedbed was significantly lower in droughty years and seedbed structure was worse in sufficiently wet year compared to deep ploughing. Incorporation of lime sludge by ploughless tillage resulted in significantly higher soil water content at 5–15 cm depth, better seedbed structure and greater crop germination rate compared to ploughless tillage alone. Incorporation of lime sludge also increased oilseed rape yield by 11.1% in droughty year. Having incorporated the cover crop for green manure late in autumn by ploughless tillage the oilseed rape in droughty years germinated significantly worse, the soil water content remaining in the seedbed after emergence was lower and the yield decreased by 19.8% compared to ploughless tillage. Having left the cover crop mulch over winter without autumn tillage demonstrated significantly higher soil water content at 5–15 cm depth after oilseed rape sowing; however, in droughty years the seedbed became drier, its structure deteriorated, the crop germinated worse and yield decreased by 12.1–17.3% compared to ploughless tillage. Spring oilseed rape germination rate in droughty years was influenced by the soil water content in the seedbed after sowing (r = 0.56, P < 0.01), content of 2–5 mm soil aggregate fraction in seedbed (r = 0.50, P < 0.05) and by the seedbed structure, expressed as an index (r = 0.50, P < 0.05), while crop yield – by the seedbed structure (r = 0.67, P < 0.01) and by the germination rate (r = 0.74, P < 0.01).

Effects of the penetration of Artemisia vulgaris L. into maize crops as a result of the use of reduced tillage

In recent years, a significant increase in weed infestation of agricultural crops with &lt;em&gt;Artemisia vulgaris &lt;/em&gt;has been observed in the south-western region of Poland. The ease of migration of this expansive species results from the fact that it does not face competition from segetal weeds and therefore poses a great threat to the ecological balance. During the period 2008–2011, a floristic study was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet method in an abandoned field adjacent to a maize monoculture grown under two tillage systems: plough and ploughless tillage. These observations allowed an evaluation of the actual risk of spread of &lt;em&gt;Artemisia vulgaris &lt;/em&gt;depending on tillage system. The vicinity of the abandoned field had a significant effect on the penetration of &lt;em&gt;Artemisia vulgaris &lt;/em&gt;into maize crops. Higher numbers of individuals of this species were found under ploughless tillage compared to plough tillage, regardless of the distance from the field edge, and its increased competitive effects on &lt;em&gt;Viola arvensis &lt;/em&gt;L. and &lt;em&gt;Veronica persica &lt;/em&gt;L. could be observed. The lowest grain yield was obtained under ploughless tillage where the strong competitive effects of &lt;em&gt;Artemisia vulgaris &lt;/em&gt;were observed even in the plot most distant from the abandoned field adjacent to the maize crop.

The effect of tillage system and herbicide application on weed infestation of crops of winter spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta L.) cultivars

&lt;p&gt;Based on a 3-year field experiment conducted on medium heavy mixed rendzina soil, the present study evaluated the effect of chemical plant protection on the species composition, number and air-dry weight of weeds infesting crops of winter spelt wheat cultivars (‘Frankenkorn’, ‘Badengold’, ‘Schwaben- speltz’, and ‘Oberkulmer Rotkorn’) sown under ploughing and ploughless tillage systems. Ploughing tillage involved skim- ming done after harvest of the previous crop and pre-sowing ploughing, while in the ploughless tillage system ploughing was replaced with cultivating. Chemical weed control included the application of the herbicides Mustang 306 SE and Attribut 70 WG. Plots where the herbicides were not used were the control treatment. On average, from 21 to 30 weed species colonised the winter spelt wheat crops compared. &lt;em&gt;Galium aparine &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;Apera spica-venti &lt;/em&gt;occurred in greatest numbers and their percentage in the total number of weeds was estimated at 26–35% and 17–25%, respectively. The cultivar ‘Frankenkorn’ was the least weed-infested. Both the number of weeds in the crop of this cultivar and their above-ground dry weight were lower compared to the other cultivars. The use of reduced tillage significantly increased the air-dry weight of weeds compared to ploughing tillage. Nevertheless, it should be indicated under ploughless tillage conditions the application of chemical crop protection reduced weed biomass by 59% compared to the control treatments without crop protection.&lt;/p&gt;