Ridge Tillage Research Articles

The field mulching could improve sustainability of spring maize production on the Loess Plateau

Despite field mulching has been widely adopted to improve crop productivity, agro-ecosystem sustainability of this technology in arid and semi-arid areas is inconclusive. We examined the response of yield stability, changes in soil water storage (ΔSWS), nitrogen (N) budget, soil total nitrogen (TN) content and soil organic carbon (SOC) content to furrow-ridge tillage and film or straw field mulching practices in a 6-year field experiment of rain-fed spring maize (Zea mays L.) on the Loess Plateau from 2016 to 2021. Five tillage practices included conventional tillage (CT), ridge tillage (RT), flat planting with plastic film mulching (FM), ridge tillage with plastic film mulching on ridge (RTF) and maize straw mulching (SM). Nitrogen application rates were 0 and 225 kg N ha−1. Maize yield and yield sustainability index (SYI) of plastic film mulching increased by 26.8%− 73.4% and 4.4%− 13.9%, respectively, compared with CT, and coefficient of variation (CV) of plastic film mulching declined by 0.7%− 10.7% relative to that of CT. The average ΔSWS of all tillage patterns were positive, and the rainwater use potential was 88.3–96.9%. The N budget in all practices was positive under N applied treatments but negative without N input. Without N application, N consumption was substantially exacerbated by plastic film mulching, whereas it was mitigated to some extent by SM. The TN and SOC contents were maintained under plastic film mulching. Soil TN and SOC contents in SM increased by 27.1–29.8% and 22.3–33.3%, respectively, in tested stage. However, its yield varied substantially, particularly under no N application. Small yield increase and higher CV and lower SYI occurred in RT practice. The SOC declined similar to CT. Overall, there was higher variation of yield in SM practice. The SOC appeared to decline in RT practice. The plastic film mulching was a promising practice to increase and stabilize maize yields, improve the rainfall use potential, increase or maintain the TN and SOC contents in semi-arid regions. However, attention should be paid to the impact of microplastic contamination in future research.

Innovative ridge tillage of soil with simultaneous sowing of seeds of industrial crops and with laying of drip irrigation hose on ridge

The article presents the results of research on the development of technology for comb cultivation of industrial crops with targeted and uniform moistening of the root system of plants. Innovative ridge tillage of the soil with simultaneous sowing of seeds of industrial crops and with the laying of a drip irrigation hose on the ridge, the accumulation of moisture is excluded, which leads to the pollination of the soil, destruction of the structure and formation of a soil crust, this contributes to the production of friendly seedlings, good plant development and obtaining a high yield of raw cotton with early ripening. The drip irrigation system allows you to provide plants with water and fertilizers. The drip irrigation system, with the laying of flexible perforated irrigation tapes on ridges along its entire length, is carried out simultaneously with the sowing of cotton seeds, which eliminates the manual layout of irrigation hoses, and eliminates time-consuming manual operation during feeding and further watering. The use of drip irrigation guarantees higher yields, as well as provides savings in labor, water, and energy resources.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Erosion in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020

Northeast China is a prominent base for commercial grain production nationwide. Soil erosion, a primary cause of land degradation and grain yield decrease, has become an imminent issue and is still not well documented in Northeast China. Thus, a comprehensive assessment of soil erosion in Northeast China is essential for deepening our understanding of various geological and agricultural issues, such as control of regional water and soil losses, anti-degeneration attempts on black soil, preservation of land fertility, and safeguarding of national food security. Based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) models, this paper comprehensively assessed the water and wind erosion in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020 and analyzed the current situation, as well as the spatial and temporal evolution of soil erosion. The results suggest the following: (1) The degree of soil erosion in Northeast China was mainly slight, and water erosion was more severe than wind erosion. Water and wind erosion in bare land and grassland were more intensive than in cropland and forests. The Liao River Plain (LRP) has undergone relatively intensive water erosion, while the wind erosion in the Greater Kinggan Mountains Region (GKMR) was more intensive than in other sub-regions. (2) A slight intensifying trend of water erosion could be observed in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020, where the area of slight water erosion decreased and that of light and intensive water erosion increased. The water erosion in the Changbai Mountain Region (CBMR), the Sanjiang Plain (SJP), and the Songnen Plain (SNP) intensified, while the LRP has undergone slower water erosion than before. The water erosion in bare land and cropland intensified, while the water erosion in grassland and forests slowed down. Compared to the first decade (2000–2010), the second decade (2010–2020) in the timespan of study had a reversed trend of water erosion from intensifying to moderating, which means water erosion was alleviated. (3) A moderating trend in wind erosion could be found in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020, where the area of slight wind erosion increased and that of light, moderate, and intensive wind erosion decreased. The wind erosion in the LRP showed a pronounced decrease, and the wind erosion in bare land and cropland also considerably decreased. Compared to the first decade, the amount of wind erosion in the second decade decreased by 18.2%, but the rate in the second decade decreased slowly or even increased. These two facts indicate that wind erosion in Northeast China has alleviated, but this trend is gradually slowing down. Soil erosion is caused by multiple factors, such as climate, topography, soil, and human activities. This study provides important implications for our understanding of soil erosion control and management in Northeast China. In sub-regions with severe erosion, such as the LRP and the GKMR, we can adopt methods such as zero tillage, cross ridge tillage, and straw mulching according to the local characteristics of soil erosion to slow down the process.

Effects of corn straw cover years on soil organic matter and compactness in typical black soil areas of Songnen Plain

China is a huge agricultural country with rich straw resources. However, the problem to be solved urgently is to find means to use crop straw effectively and reasonably. To study the influence of no-tillage straw mulching measures on soil compactness and soil organic matter, taking the black soil straw mulching no-tillage test field in Gaojia Village, Lishu County, Jilin Province as the research object, the characteristics of soil compactness and organic matter in different tillage layers under different cover years of no-till straw are discussed. The results show the following: (1) in the 0–50 cm tillage layer, the highest treatment method of soil organic matter is NT1 (no-tillage corn stover mulching for one year), with an average value of 2.62%, and the soil organic matter content of NT1 treatment increased by 57.46% compared with RT (ridge tillage). (2) The compactness of surface soil (0–20 cm) no-tillage soil is higher than RT, with an increase of more than 6.87%, and the compactness of deep soil (20–50 cm) no-tillage soil is lower than RT, with a decrease of more than 23.48%. (3) No-tillage can improve the agglomeration structure of the surface soil, increase the moisture content of the surface soil, reduce the volume of the surface soil, and improve the organic matter content of the surface soil, thus increasing the firmness of the surface soil. This study can provide a theoretical basis for promoting the comprehensive utilization of straw resources and developing eco-agriculture.

Effect of Mechanized Ridge Tillage with Rice-Rape Rotation on Paddy Soil Structure

Ridge tillage is one of the essential tillage methods in China. It affects the soil structure by altering the soil-water environment. With the rapid development of agricultural mechanization, the mechanized ridge tillage technology that combines modern mechanized agriculture with conservation tillage has become a pertinent agricultural production technology in the hilly regions. However, to date, the effects of mechanized ridge tillage on soil structure have garnered little attention. In this study, a field plot experiment involving the following four treatments: conventional tillage with rice and winter fallow (CK1), conventional tillage with rice-rape rotation (CK2), wide ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (BT), and narrow ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (RT) was conducted to study the effects of mechanized ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation on soil aggregate stability and soil porosity. The results indicated that mechanized ridge tillage could reduce the porosity of pores > 30 μm in diameter and increase the porosity of pores < 0.5 μm. Furthermore, mechanized ridge tillage could increase soil aggregate stability; the order of average mass diameter and geometric average diameter was RT > BT > CK2 > CK1. The BT and RT treatments could increase the agglomeration degree of the soil particles, which followed the order of RT > BT > CK2 > CK1. Therefore, mechanized ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation is effective in enhancing soil structure.

English

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) has historically been classified as a northern crop because it predominantly grows in the northern regions of Nigeria. Transportation of harvested roots to the south has consequently resulted to decay, shrinkage, loss of roots due to high temperature and long distant travels, high cost of produce etc. The objective was to find out the variety and tillage method that will enhance the production of carrots in Southeast Nigeria and the appropriate poultry manure rates for production. Two Carrot varieties (Touchon mega and Kurado) were evaluated under field experiment and were grown under three poultry manure (PM) rates (0,5,10 t ha-1) and two tillage methods (Ridge and Bed) to assess their effects on the growth and yield of carrot roots. Roots were harvested at the 90th day after planting and data were collected on seedling emergence, root weight, leaf weight, whole plant biomass, percentage marketable yield, and total marketable yield. The result showed that poultry manure significantly (p<0.05) enhanced higher yields. The ridge tillage method gave a higher marketable yield than the Bed type. Kurado variety had the highest percent marketable yield though there were no significant (p>0.05) differences between the two varieties. The tillage method and poultry manure influenced the growth and yield of carrot roots suggesting that the appropriate tillage method and poultry manure rate will enhance production in the environment. From the results of the experiment, it could be concluded that for the production of carrots in the environment Kurado variety is recommended due to its high yielding capacity while Ridge tillage method is recommended for farmers in the area due to its efficient use and ability to support root penetration; 10 t ha-1 manure rate was found to be most economical manure rate. Key words: Tillage methods, poultry manure and carrot variety.

Prospects of sediment deposition at small watershed scale in the black soil region of Northeast China: A mini review

Sediment deposition is one of the most significant processes in small watersheds characterized by gentle long hillslopes in the black soil (Mollisol) region of Northeast China, as indicated by severe ephemeral gully and gully erosion on hillslopes and very low sediment concentrations in river systems. Few reviews have been conducted to summarize the related research in this region. The objectives of this review were to identify the potential factors influencing sediment deposition, review related studies, and propose future research needs in the black soil region of Northeast China. Sediment deposition is controlled by the deficit between sediment transport capacity of flow and sediment load. Hence, all factors affecting flow transport capacity and sediment load directly affect sediment deposition. For a specific small watershed, the change in slope gradient along the flow path is the key factor affecting sediment deposition. Shelterbelts, ridge tillage systems, terraces, grass strips, road distribution, ponds and reservoirs, and land-use patterns also influence the spatial distribution and rate of deposition. The trace method has been widely used to quantify sediment deposition in this region. The results of cesium-137 (137Cs), lead-210 (210Pb), and magnetic susceptibility reveal that serious deposition occurs on the back and foot slopes. Distinct deposition occurs in front of contour shelterbelts. Future studies should focus on the methodology, spatial and temporal variations, dominant influencing factors and their mechanisms, and the potential effects on land productivity within specific small watersheds and across the black soil region. This review provides insights into the sediment deposition process in small watersheds characterized by gentle, long hillslopes.

Investigating the Assemblages of Two Groups of Collembola (Strong Furca and Weak Furca) under Different Agricultural Management Systems, Northeastern China

Agriculture itself has been considered one of the leading reasons for biodiversity loss because of the huge quantity of land dedicated to just this activity, and agricultural intensification has impacted soil organisms at several taxonomic levels. Soil biota is a vital component of the agricultural system, providing essential ecosystem services while also having synergistic impacts on crop yield. Preservation of their diversity becomes a major element of an agricultural sustainability strategy. Many studies focused on agricultural activities’ effects on soil organisms, but few of them have focused on their effects on the co-occurrence patterns of their communities. Collembola communities are frequently employed as a substitute for soil organisms; thus, as a surface-dwelling arthropods representative, we investigated assemblages of soil Collembola in reaction to the arrangement of 6 treatments varying in crop rotation (MC: monoculture (corn) vs. CS: corn–soybean rotation) and tillage types (MP: mould ploughing; RT: ridge tillage; and NT: no-tillage). We hypothesized that Collembola communities with strong furca would respond well to the agricultural practices than those with weak furca, and there would be strong co-occurrence between species of Collembola communities belonging to the treatments with less intensity of soil disturbance and more variation in crop rotation. Our study found no clear evidence of a beneficial effect of crop rotation on Collembola communities. Although Collembola with strong furca shows higher abundances in plots with mold plowing, weak furca abundances were not showing any difference (differences in abilities to move fast from harsh habitats could be the reason for different responses of these two groups). Network analysis revealed that Collembola assemblages seem to occur more responsive to tillage intensity than crop rotation. Network graphs of treatments with ridge tillage are significantly more clustered than all others. For the first time, we can show that assemblages of springtails in agriculture were distinguished by a pattern of co-occurrence alongside agricultural practices (crop rotation, soil tillage), showing variations in the disturbance of soil and soil nutrients. Our results, contrary to our expectations, demonstrated that the effects of agricultural activities on Collembola abundance and diversity could be weak after long-term application of the same treatment, but still, they will clearly affect the bonds between Collembola species by affecting their co-occurrence pattern in Collembola communities.

Response of erosion reduction effect of typical soil and water conservation measures in cropland to rainfall and slope gradient changes and their applicable range in the Chinese Mollisols Region, Northeast China

Mollisols are rich in organic matter, which makes them suitable for cultivation and for enhancing global food security. Mollisols are experiencing severe soil erosion due to overfarming and a lack of maintenance. Thus, suitable soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) are needed to protect Mollisols. However, how SWCMs respond to changes in slope gradient and rainfall and their effective application area remain ambiguous. Using a long-term field observation dataset, meta-analysis, and statistical test methods, we reveal the typical erosion reduction effect of SWCMs and their responses to changes in slope gradient and rainfall. Next, we calculated a coupling factor, P·S, by slope gradient and rainfall in flood season to determine the effective SWCMs application threshold. Compared with bare land, no-tillage (NT), contour ridge tillage (CT), ridge hedgerows (RH), and terraced fields (TF) had an average erosion reduction coefficient of 91.5%. There was a significant exponential increase in the correlation between P·S and the soil erosion amount in plots with typical measures. According to this correlation and soil loss tolerance (200 t/km2), the upper limits of P·S (NT: 564 mm; CT: 885 mm; RH: 1135 mm) were determined and utilized to determine the effective application areas (NT: 311.40 103 km2; CT: 320.86 103 km2; RH: 323.72 103 km2) at the plot scale. In wet years, the applicable area of SWCMs declined toward the low-elevation foothills and flat terrain. All the results are applicable when slope length within 20 m. These results provide a basis for the precise allocation of SWCMs in Mollisols area and promote the scientific utilization of Mollisols resources.

Effects of long-term no-tillage and maize straw mulching on gross nitrogen transformations in Mollisols of Northeast China

Conservation tillage practices are widely proposed as an effective management approach to guarantee soil productivity and sustainability by manipulating nutrient status, especially nitrogen (N) cycling. However, little is known about the interactive response of individual gross N transformation processes and their regulation of N availability in soil. Therefore, a 15N tracing study was carried out to investigate the effect of 12 years of no-tillage with different amounts of maize straw mulching on gross N transformation rates in Mollisols of Northeast China. Four treatments were arranged, including conventional ridge tillage (RT) and no-tillage treatments with 0 % (NT0), 33 % (NT33, 2500 kg ha−1 y-1) and 100 % (NT100, 7500 kg ha−1 y-1) harvested maize straw mulching. The results explicitly indicated that field management practices intensively controlled the dynamic N transformation between inorganic and organic forms and thus manipulated the retention and supply of soil N pool. Specifically, relative to the conventional ridge tillage, no-tillage reduced the rate of gross organic N mineralization (MNorg, from 2.47 to 1.56 mg N kg−1 d−1) but increased NH4+-N immobilization (INH4, from 3.47 to 4.83 mg N kg−1 d−1) due to reduced soil disturbances. Increased maize residue input in no-till systems stimulated both MNorg and INH4, denoting an improved supply of available N with the enhanced retention of soil organic N in conservation tillage systems. In addition, no-tillage with maize straw mulching synchronically stimulated NH4+-N adsorption/fixation (ANH4, from 2.38 to 4.11 mg N kg−1 d−1) and subsequent release (RNH4ads, from 1.80 to 3.64 mg N kg−1 d−1) processes, and such accelerated abiotic N turnover could react as an effective buffer for the supply and retention of available NH4+-N. Moreover, no-tillage with maize straw mulching considerably reduced autotrophic nitrification (from 6.39 to 3.70 mg N kg−1 d−1) while simultaneously promoted dissimilatory NO3−-N reduction to NH4+-N (DNRA, from 0.35 to 0.85 mg N kg−1 d−1), thus improving soil N retention capacity and reducing N loss risk. Taken together, considering the internal transformation of different soil N components, effective N cycling was gained in conservational cultivation by enhancing the retention and availability of soil N.

Spatial Variation in Soil Physico-Chemical Properties along Slope Position in a Small Agricultural Watershed Scale

Both cropland management and slop erosion are important factors influencing soil properties, but there are relatively few studies on their combined effects. Studies at the agricultural watershed scale can satisfy both of these conditions, and to reduce the effects of soil heterogeneity due to differences in spatial scale, it is better to select different slopes in the same small watershed. To understand how soil properties will respond to the variation of slope position and cropland management at an agricultural watershed, we present the distribution of soil bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), water-stable aggregates, soil organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) at four slope positions in two cropland management systems of a small agricultural watershed in the black soil region of northeast China. The selected four slope positions include upper slope, middle slope, lower slope, and footslope positions. The two cropland management systems consist of a sustainable cropland system (i.e., contour ridge tillage at upper slope position, longitudinal ridge tillage at middle slope and lower slope positions, and grassland at footslope position) and a conventional cropland system (i.e., contour ridge tillage at upper slope position, longitudinal ridge tillage at middle slope, lower slope positions, and footslope positions). The results showed that soil bulk density and microaggregates decreased but the concentration of OC and nutrients, Ks, and small-macroaggregate increased from the upper slope position to the lower slope position in both the conventional and sustainable croplands, which was due to the interaction effect of cultivation with erosion. In comparison with conventional cropland, sustainable cropland has greater Ks, large-macroaggregate, small-macroaggregate, microaggregate, and concentrations and stocks of OC, N, and P, but showed lower bulk density and silt + clay fraction. However, the prominent differences in both croplands were presented in the footslope position, which is ascribed to the interaction of cultivation, erosion, and cropland management. These results highlighted that sustainable cropland management practice has the potential to improve soil structure and prevent soil and nutrient loss.

Long-Term Conservation Tillage Practices Directly and Indirectly Affect Soil Micro-Food Web in a Chinese Mollisol

Soil micro-food webs play an essential role in maintaining or improving the stability of agricultural soils, and they can be influenced by tillage. However, little is known with respect to soil microbial and faunal communities and their relationships shaped by long-term tillage practices. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of 38 years of no-tillage (NT), subsoil tillage (ST), moldboard plow tillage (MP), and rotary and ridge tillage (CT) practices on soil microbial and faunal communities, and their relationships with soil properties using high-throughput sequencing technology and structural equation modeling (SEM) at 2 soil depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). The results indicate that, after the 38-year (1983–2020) period, the bacterial, fungal, protozoan, and metazoan gene copy numbers under the NT treatment at 0–20 cm were 1.31–6.13 times higher than those under the other treatments. Conversely, the microbial and protozoan alpha diversities were reduced under the NT treatment compared with the CT treatment. However, MP significantly increased microbial and faunal gene copy numbers at 20–40 cm. Moreover, the bacterial community composition remarkably varied relative to the community composition of the fungi and fauna in response to the tillage practices and soil depths. Additionally, the highest and lowest average connectivities of the soil micro-food web networks were observed under the ST and MP treatments, respectively. The SEM demonstrated that tillage practices and soil depths explained 73–98% of the microbial and faunal abundances, diversities, and compositions. Additionally, tillage and depth demonstrated direct quantitative effects and indirect quantitative effects by altering the soil mean weight diameter of aggregates, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen. Overall, subsoil tillage is recommended as the optimal practice for application in northeast China, and it could improve soil properties and aid in forming a more complex soil micro-food web structure.

Responses of Tobacco Growth and Development, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Crop Yield and Economic Benefits to Smash Ridge Tillage and Nitrogen Reduction

Long-term rotary tillage leads to thinning of the soil layer and low nitrogen use efficiency of crops, resulting in a decrease in crop yield and quality. Therefore, a new alternative method to improve nitrogen use efficiency of crops needs to be found urgently. Here, we analyzed the effects of a new smash ridge tillage method combined with reduced nitrogen application on tobacco growth and development, and nitrogen use efficiency and its economic benefits. The results showed that, compared with conventional tillage and nitrogen application of 180 kg N ha−1, smash ridge tillage and a 30% reduction in nitrogen rate resulted in greater root length density, more primary lateral roots and greater rooting depth in the subsoil. It is also beneficial to maintain a high level of biomass and nitrogen accumulation in the later growth period, increasing the output value of tobacco by CNY 1588.35 ha−1 and reducing the cost by CNY 974.1 ha−1 on average in two years. In conclusion, our study highlights the economic benefits of smash ridge tillage and nitrogen reduction for tobacco growth and development, and considers them an effective method for improving agricultural productivity and nitrogen use efficiency.

Yields and heavy metal uptake of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and effects on soil properties of different tillage practices and application of burnt rice husk dust in Abakaliki, south-east Nigeria

ABSTRACT Indigenous crops play a critical role in the socioeconomic growth of developing nations where there have been calls for exploitation of these staple crops. This study investigated the yield and heavy metal uptake of cocoyam and changes in soil physical properties in relation to different tillage practices and the application of burnt rice husk dust (BRHD). The experiment was arranged as a split plot in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and three replications. The treatments were: mound tillage (no BRHD); ridge tillage (no BRHD); mound + 10 t ha−1 BRHD; mound + 20 t ha−1 BRHD; ridge + 10 t ha−1 BRHD and ridge + 20 t ha−1 BRHD. The results showed that soil bulk density (at 45 days after planting, DAP) was lower when the tillage practices were combined with the amendment of burnt rice husk dust, while total porosity (at 45 DAP) and aggregate stability were higher. The yields of cocoyam corms were also higher for tillage practices combined with amendment with burnt rice husk dust. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) in the cocoyam corms were higher for plants grown in soil amended with BRHD, but the levels were still below the levels considered harmful in food crops. Burnt rice husk dust could be recommended for use as a soil amendment in the study area to improve soil properties and increase the production of cocoyam, without increasing the concentration of heavy metals in the corms to harmful levels.

Study on the Characteristics of Soil Erosion in the Black Soil Area of Northeast China under Natural Rainfall Conditions: The Case of Sunjiagou Small Watershed

In the black soil area, where soil erosion is severe and the soil is in urgent need of ecological restoration, providing reasonable and practical measures to prevent soil erosion and restore the soil is an urgent issue at present. In this study, nine runoff plots were deployed in Bin County, the core area of soil erosion control, to monitor runoff and soil loss long-term, simulated by the erosion potential method (EPM) for comparison. Studies have shown that soil erosion is strongly influenced by soil conservation measures, land use, and vegetation cover. In contrast, slope, pre-soil moisture content, and soil crusting due to rainfall can affect erosion in a single rainfall event. The most severe soil erosion was in bare land, up to 1093.58 t km−2 a−1, followed by longitudinal ridge tillage land (751.88 t km−2 a−1) and cross ridge tillage land (31.58 t km−2 a−1). The shrublands and mixed forests planted for ecological restoration experienced almost no erosion. The soil loss rate of the cross ridge tillage and ecological restoration plots was much lower than the allowable soil loss rate (200 t km−2 a−1). Under erosive storms, longitudinal ridge tillage can produce soil loss rates that far exceed those of bare ground. The change from longitudinal ridge tillage to cross ridge tillage on gentle slopes can effectively prevent soil erosion in the study area. The vegetation restoration measures of planting shrubs such as Amorpha fruticosa Linn. are incredibly effective in the ecological restoration of wastelands in black soil areas. For the black soil area after the retreat, the vertical structure of vegetation can be improved by planting shrubs at the bottom, thus achieving a good restoration effect.

Effects of Continuous Ridge Tillage at Two Fertilizer Depths on Microbial Community Structure and Rice Yield

Ridge tillage at two fertilizer depths is a new type of conservation tillage method that was previously shown to substantially improve rice yield. This study aimed to compare the effects of continuous ridge tillage at two fertilizer depths (L treatment) with those of conventional cultivation (P treatment) on bacterial and fungal diversity in the rice root zone and study the correlation between microorganisms and yield components. At the mature stage, the yield and yield components of rice plants were compared. Test soil (0–20 cm) with continuous tillage for 3 years was used for high-throughput sequencing to analyze the microbial community structure in the root–soil of the two treatments. We found that the L treatment increased soil nutrient content and improved soil physical properties, which altered the composition of the microbial community. The bacterial ACE and Chao indices in the L treatment increased by 1.46% and 1.83%, respectively, and the fungal ACE and Chao indices increased by 5.25% and 5.49%, compared with the P treatment, respectively. The average theoretical yield under the L treatment was 9781.51 kg/ha, which was 19.23% higher than that under the P treatment. Continuous ridge tillage at two fertilizer depths can provide a better soil environment for rice growth and increase the yield.

Tillage-induced microtopography alters time-dependent intrinsic correlation of runoff and sediment yield

Tillage practices change microtopography and hydrological process, which significantly affects soil erosion. The objective of this study is understanding storm-driven microtopography development under different tillage practices and its effects on runoff and soil erosion. A series of simulated rainfall experiments with an intensity of 2.0 mm min−1 were implemented on three 4 m by 0.8 m soil boxes on a 15° slope with different tillage-induced microreliefs including smooth slope (SS), artificial digging (AD), and ridge tillage (RT). The Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) was used to detect the change trends of runoff and sediment yield, and the time-dependent intrinsic correlation (TDIC) was used to depict intrinsic runoff-sediment relations. The results showed the soil roughness were SS < AD < RT during different rill erosive stages. AD and RT slopes reduced runoff by 11.5–64.5% compared with the SS slope during water erosion. AD and RT slopes also reduced sediment yield by 13.3–83.4% during interrill erosion process, but the sediment yield increased by 59.2–132.1% during rill erosion. Runoff and sediment yield had multi-scale temporal variation characteristics. Ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) was adapted to decompose the runoff and sediment yield data into different intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). For the high-frequency components (IMF1-IMF3), rougher microrelief led to increase in the periods of runoff and sediment yield, while the trend of the low-frequency components (IMF4-IMF5) was opposite to that of the high-frequency components. This phenomenon was mainly related to the spatial structure of microtopography. Tillage-induced microtopography altered the associations of runoff with sediment yield in different time scales. This study provided new insights into revealing the mechanism of tillage erosion in sloping farmland.

Effects of ridge tillage with film mulching in furrow on photosynthetic characteristics of potato and yield formation in dryland farming

<p id="C3">To investigate the effects of ridge tillage with film mulching in furrow on photosynthetic characteristics and yield formation of potato in dry land, field experiment was conducted from 2018 to 2019 in mountain area of south Ningxia. Ridges were covered with common plastic film in all treatments, while different furrow treatments were mulched with common plastic film (DD), degradable permeable mulch film (DS), and bast fiber film (DM), and no mulching furrows was used as the control check (CK). The effects of ridge tillage with film mulching in furrow on soil moisture, photosynthetic characteristics of potato functional leaves and yield formation during the key growth period (60-120 days after sowing) were investigated and compared. The results showed that the different mulching treatments could significantly increase soil water storage in 0-100 cm layer during potato squaring stage (60 days after sowing). DD treatment was the highest in 2018 and DM treatment was the highest in 2019, which significantly increased by 11.2% and 21.6% than CK, respectively. In the key growth periods of potato, leaf area index of DS treatment was significantly higher than that of CK in 2019, but there was no significant difference among the other treatments. Different mulching treatments could increase the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate, while DM treatment significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate by 30.0% and 23.2% in the tuber swelling stage (120 days after sowing), compared with CK, respectively. The average tuber dry matter accumulation with DD, DM and DS treatments in the 2-year tuber swelling stage was significantly increased by 54.9%, 50.0%, and 22.6%. During the 2-year experiments, the average potato yield with DD, DM and DS treatments was increased by 13.2%, 14.1%, and 5.2%, the average net income was increased by 16.3%, 14.6% and 4.0%, respectively, compared with CK, while the differences in potato yield and net income were not significant between DS and CK. Correlation analysis showed that soil moisture and net photosynthetic rate were the main factors affecting potato yield formation. The treatments of ridge tillage with common plastic film mulching in furrow (DD) and ridge tillage with bast fiber film mulching in furrow (DM) could improve soil moisture at squaring stage, thus promoting the increase of potato photosynthesis and yield. Therefore, ridge tillage with bast fiber film mulching in furrow had the same effect of increasing yield and income as ridge tillage with common plastic film mulching in furrow, and it had the advantage of partially replacing common plastic mulching.

Weed Management in Ridge Tillage Systems—A Review

Although different modifications of ridge tillage (RT) systems exist in different regions around the world, the positive impacts of RT on crop yields and weed management are quite similar. This review gives a comprehensive summary of different forms of RT and highlights the benefits of RT for crop growth, mainly due to better access to soil moisture, nutrients and light. In temperate areas, RT can accelerate crop emergence because soil temperature is usually higher on the ridge. These stimulating effects increase crop competitiveness against weeds especially in the early period of crop development until canopy closure. RT with crops placed on the top of ridges can also be used for automatically guiding inter-row hoes and intra-row band sprayers. The ridges can replace automatic vision control systems for hoeing and band spraying, which are needed for precise weeding in conventional flat seedbeds. Therefore, RT can be considered a possible platform for smart/robotic weeding. This paper introduces a new RT system using real-time kinematic (RTK) global satellite navigation systems (GNSS) for the ridging and seeding of maize and soybean on top of recompacted ridges. Straight ridges with precise positioning data were used to guide mechanical weeding elements precisely along the crop rows. Simultaneously, weeds in the valleys were suppressed by living mulches. Field experiments with this new technology in maize showed 85.5% weed dry biomass suppression compared to an untreated control and a slightly higher weed control efficacy than mechanical weeding in flat seedbeds.

Determination of the effects of different tillage methods and irrigation levels on soybean yield and yield components

AbstractThis study was carried out to determine the effects of different irrigation levels and different tillage and sowing methods on the amount of irrigation water, evapotranspiration, water productivity (WP) and yield in the second crop soybean in Çukurova Region, Turkey. Three irrigation levels were applied (I100: completion to the field capacity of the available water of 60 cm soil depth weekly. I70: 70% of the water applied to I100, I50: 50% of the water applied to I100), five tillage and sowing methods were used (T1: traditional soil tillage, T2: reduced soil tillage, T3: reduced soil tillage, T4: ridge tillage, T5: no-tillage). The research was carried out in a randomized block split-plot design with three replications. The result of, the highest yield was obtained in I100xT1 with 4990 kg/ha, while the lowest yield was obtained in I50xT3 with 3150 kg/ha in irrigation x tillage interactions. When the water consumption values of plants were analysed, the highest was obtained with 632 mm I100 and the lowest with 399 mm I50. When WP values were analysed, the highest was obtained with 8.7 in I50 and the lowest in 6.6 and I100. As a result, full irrigation and direct sowing methods (I100T1) are recommended in soybean cultivation considering the highest water-yield relationship in the Mediterranean Region.