Soil Tillage Methods Research Articles

Effect of soil tillage methods and cattle fertilizer of cow on increasing sweet corn (Zea mays saccharate sturt) production

Sweet corn production is relatively low in Indonesia. To increase production one of the efforts that can be done is to improve the method of soil tillage and by giving doses of cattle fertilizers. The study was conducted in Asam Kumbang Village, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The research design used was the Splite Plot Design. Treatment factors consist of factors of soil treatment method and factor of cattle fertilizers. The factor of the soil treatment method consists of 3 levels: T1 = No soil tillage. T2 = soil tillage one time. T3 = soil tillage two times. The factor of cattle fertilizers consists of 4 levels: K1 = Inorganic fertilizer/ha (200 kg Urea.100 kg TSP, 100 kg KCl). K2 = 10 tons of cattle fertilizers/ha. K3 = 20 tons of cattle fertilizers/ha. K4 = 30 tons of cattle fertilizers/ha. The results showed that the highest production of cobs for the treatment of soil tillage methods is found in T2 treatment (soil tillage onetime) with a production level of 8820.19g/plot (26.25tons/ha). For the treatment of cattle fertilizer, the highest cob production was obtained in K4 treatment (dose of 30 tons of cattle fertilizers/ha) with the production level reached 10154.67g per plot (30.22 tons/ha).

Продуктивність пшениці ярої залежно від обробітку ґрунту та системи удобрення в умовах Передкарпаття

Продуктивність пшениці ярої залежно від обробітку ґрунту та системи удобрення в умовах Передкарпаття

Effects of tillage systems on second crop sesame (sesamum indicum L.) yield and weed density

The aim of this research was to define conventional (CT) and conservation tillage systems in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) farming as a second crop after harvesting lentil in southeastern region in Turkey. Toward this aim, four different soil tillage methods namely, moldboard plough + disc harrow + float +seeding (CT), disc harrow plus+ float + seeding (RT1), cultivator +float+ seeding (RT2) and no-tillage (NT) (seeding by direct drill) were examined on yield of sesame and some of plan properties at southeastern part of Turkey.The experiment was carried out in research area of faculty of agriculture, Diyarbakir, Turkey in 2014 crop season. The study was designed in accordance with the randomized block design and carried out in three replications. The Results showed that seed yield and weeds density were positively affected by the tillage methods. The increase in the seed yield observed at Conservation tillage while decrease in the weeds population. The highest yield value was found from CT methods (1623.3 kg ha-1). The tillage methods were not found statistically effect on protein and oil rate.

Weed infestation of winter wheat crops in short grain and hoed crops rotation

Purpose. To determine the peculiarities of weed infestation of winter wheat in short grain and hoed crops rotation.Methods. The research was carried out in a long-term stationary experiment of Veselyi Podil Experimental Breeding Station in short grain and hoed crops rotation (the share of grain crops 75% and hoed crops 25%) with different soil tillage and fertilization practices.Results. Weed infestation of winter wheat crops in short grain and hoed crops rotation at the time of harvesting depended on both the fertilization system and the methods of soil tillage. In particular, in the treatment without fertilizers, the greatest abundance of weeds (plant/m2) was observed for the subsurface soil tillage (46.8), while for ploughing it was 34.2 and for combined cultivation 25.5. Weed infestation of crops significantly reduced in the background of 6.25 t/ha of manure + N45P45K45, the abundance of weeds in subsurface soil cultivation decreased compared to the unfertilized treatment by 5.5, for ploughing by 4.6, for combined cultivation by 3.8 to 41.3; 31.7 and 21.7, respectively. The weed species composition depends to a large extent on the fertilization system and the soil cultivation method. The structure of weed component was dominated by the Fumaria officinalis L. and the Descurainia sophia L. with the shares in the total number of all weeds 13.0–37.8 and 10.6–33.0%, respectively, depending on the methods of primary tillage and fertilization system in the crop rotation. In the treatment, where the postharvest residues were incorporated into the soil in the background of 6.25 t/ha manure + N45P45K45 under winter wheat, there was a decrease in the species composition of weeds.Conclusions. During harvesting, the most significant weed infestatıon (plant/m2) of winter wheat crops on non-fertilized backgrounds were noted for the subsurface soil tillage 46.8. With the use of the organo-mineral fertilizer system (6.25 t/ha manure + harvest residue + N33.8P33.8K33.8) and the combined soil cultivation, the abundance of weeds in winter wheat crops was 18.1, with ploughing 37.1, with subsurface cultivation 38.9. During the harvesting of winter wheat, 11 species of weeds were recorded in its crops. In the treatments, where the harvest residues were ploughed into the soil in the background of 6.25 t/ha manure + N33,8P33.8K33.8 and N45P45K45 under winter wheat and the combined soil cultivation, there was a decrease in the weed species composition.

Soil tillage methods by years interaction for dry matter of plant yield of maize (Zea mays L.) using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model

The objective of this study was to assess soil tillage methods by years interaction for dry matter of plant yield of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in West Poland by the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. The study comprised four soil tillage methods, analysed in 12 years through field trials arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. Dry matter of plant yield of the tested soil tillage methods varied from 86.7 dt ha−1 (for no-plough tillage in 2005) to 246.4 dt ha−1 (for complete conventional tillage in 2012), with an average of 146.6 dt ha−1. In the variance analysis, 49.07% of the total dry matter of plant yield variation was explained by years, 12.69% by differences between soil tillage methods, and 10.53% by soil tillage methods by years interaction. Dry matter of plant yield is highly influenced by soil tillage methods by years factors.

Soil tillage methods by years interaction for harvest index of maize (Zea mays L.) using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to assess soil tillage methods by years interaction for harvest index (HI) of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in West Poland by the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model. The study comprised four soil tillage methods, analysed in 12 years through field trials arranged in a randomised complete block design, with four replicates. HI of the tested soil tillage methods varied from 0.354 to 0.692 throughout the 12 years, with an average of 0.530. In the variance analysis, 57.06% of the total harvest index variation was explained by years, 2.39% by differences between soil tillage methods, and 8.71% by soil tillage methods by years interaction. HI is highly influenced by year factors. The method of reduced conventional tillage [autumn shallow ploughing (15 cm), cultivator with string roller in spring] was the most stable (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction stability value, ASV=0.410) for the HI values among studied soil tillage methods. This result confirms the opinion on the possibility of shallowing autumn ploughing in the cultivation of maize for grain.

Examinations of the carbon dioxide emission of the soil in the case of different tillage methods in a field experiment

Today's global challenge is the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the air. The level of CO2 emissions may be significantly affected by the agriculture and, more specifically, the applied tillage method, even though to a lesser extent than industrial production. On a global scale, the CO2 emission of an agricultural area is insignificant in comparison to that of a large-scale plant in an area of the same size, but areas under cultivation, including arable land, have a large global area. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between applied soil tillage methods and carbon dioxide emissions in the case of different fertiliser treatments. In our experiment we examined four types of tillage with five different fertiliser effects. Comparing fertiliser treatments and tillage methods, it was found that their interaction significantly affected carbon dioxide emissions, the lowest value was obtained in the case of the 210 l ha-1 Nitrosol+N-LOCK – tillage radish treatment. Strip and tillage radish methods have relatively homogeneous, low value.

Effectiveness of foliar feeding puffiness of sugar beets on dark gray podzolic soils of Western Forest-steppe

It is determined that under western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine conditions methods of soil tillage did not have a significant influence on the dynamics of the mass increase of sugar beets plants on dark grey podzolic light loamy soils. The processes of forming the mass of root crops and leaves during the growing season depended more heavily on the phases of growth and development of sugar beet and almost did not depend on the methods of cultivating the soil such as traditional deep plowing on 28–30 cm and shallow no-plow tillage on 14–16 cm. On July 15 we marked intensive growth of the mass of the leaves. Depending on the method of the main cultivation of soil and leaf feeding, the weight of the leaves was 1.6 times greater than the weight of the root crops. On August 15, the weight of the leaves reached its maximum, the ratio of the leaves to the root, depending on the method of soil cultivation and foliar feeding was within the range of 1.0–1.1. The record keeping of September 15 shows that the ratio between the leaves and the root crop, depending on the method of soil cultivation and leaf feeding, was within the range of 0.7. Significant differences in indicators, depending on the cultivation of the soil, were not recorded, the plants developed approximately at the same level. The foliar feeding is a measure that promotes the mass increase of root crops and assimilation leaf surface. The optimum is the use of a mixture of carbamide N4.62 kg a.i. + magnesium sulfate 1,67 кg. a.i. + microelements Crystallon, which provided the largest mass of root crops: on July 15 — 133–126 g, on August 15 — 239–233 g, on September 15 — 291–299 g, while harvesting — 312–303 g and joints respectively: 221–205 g, 258–240 g, 204–203 g, 178–176 g.

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.

Impact of reduced tillage on CO2 emission from soil under maize cultivation

Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas, which is released through human activities such as deforestation, burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and degradation of soil. The type of soil tillage systems has a very important impact on soil CO2 emissions. Usually higher soil CO2 emission have been observed under conventional tillage compared to reduced tillage. Maize is one of the main cereals grown around the world that reacts positively on conservation tillage. We hypothesized that reduced tillage with sub-soil fertilizer application could increase maize yield and reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional plowing. Therefore we studied CO2 emissions from soil under a conventional and innovative, environmentally safe, low-cost maize production system dedicated both to reduce time and resources and to manage the field sustainably with a lower CO2 footprint. We observed that the magnitude of grain yield depended on soil and climate conditions but not on the cultivation system. The CO2 emission level depended on the year of the study and the soil tillage method and was subject to considerable changes during the growing season. The use of reduced soil tillage significantly limited emissions of the analyzed gas into the atmosphere. Depending on the year of the study, CO2 emissions in the reduced tillage system were 7 to 35% lower than those in the conventional system. The extent of the reduction in CO2 emissions achieved under reduced tillage is very large relative to conventional tillage, which is probably due to the relatively low organic matter content of the both investigated soils in the conventional tillage. We could show that on sandy soils with a low organic matter content reduction in tillage is a factor significantly diminishing CO2 emissions.

What influences the composition of fungi in wheat grains?

Wheat grains are inhabited by different fungi, including plant pathogens and fungi – mycotoxin producers. The composition of seed mycobiota can be influenced by different factors, including agronomic practices, but the results are still contradictory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mycobiota of wheat grains depending on agroecological conditions. Wheat grains were obtained from a two-factorial field trial: A – tillage system (A1 – ploughing at a depth of 22–24 cm; A2 – harrowing at a depth of up to 10 cm); B – crop rotation (B1 – continuous wheat; B2 – oilseed rape and wheat; B3 – crop rotation). The mycobiota of grain were determined by mycological and molecular methods. The most abundant and widespread of the mycobiota were <em>Pyrenophora tritici-repentis</em>, <em>Alternaria</em> spp., <em>Arthrinium</em> spp., and <em>Fusarium avenaceum</em>. Higher amounts of precipitation increased the infection of grains with <em>Fusarium</em> fungi. Seven species of <em>Fusarium</em> were identified in the grain samples: <em>F. avenaceum</em>, <em>F. poae</em>, <em>F. graminearum</em>, <em>F. culmorum</em>, <em>F. acuminatum</em>, <em>F. sporotrichioides</em>, and <em>F. tricinctum</em>. The soil tillage method and crop rotation did not influence the total incidence of <em>Fusarium</em> spp., but the abundance of a particular species differed depending on agronomic practice. The research suggests that continuous wheat sowing under conditions of reduced soil tillage can increase the level of risk of grain infection with <em>F. graminearum</em> and, consequently, the accumulation of mycotoxins.

Наукові основи точного механічного обробітку ґрунту і перспективи його впровадження в Україні

Precision mechanical tillage is a fundamentally new agricultural strategy of farming, which is based on the use of information technology and new technical means and involves the implementation of technological measures for the main and pre-sowing tillage, taking into account the spatial heterogeneity of the physical properties of the root-content layer as indicators of differentiation of field tillage. In the article were presented the main provisions and stages of the method of determining the soil spatial heterogeneity of the plot. It was characterized indicators of precision mechanical soil tillage and promising methods for measuring parameters for precision tillage, including technical and software. It was proposed the preliminary norms of the physical properties of the treated layer for substantiation of the intensity of the basic mechanical soil tillage. It was proposed the characteristic of the main stages of the transition to precision farming and the mechanisms that should ensure its effective functioning, it was calculated the expected economic efficiency of precision farming. In the article was analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of arable land of Ukraine in terms of basic physical characteristics (structure, bulk density and penetration resistance) in the crop layer and plow sole. Some general patterns of manifestation of the spatial heterogeneity of the investigated properties of the soil cover of the land plots and the crop in all natural zones of Ukraine are analyzed, it serving as the main argument for the transition from generalized zonal technologies to precision mechanical tillage. The baseline data for the technological substantiation of the development of precision tillage (according to the content of the blocks in the seed layer) was worked out. Prospects for the introduction of precision agriculture in Ukraine are considered, based on the successful experience of mastering precision farming systems. Key words: soil, precision tillage, spatial heterogeneity, physical properties.

Dynamics of CO2 emission from chernozems under agricultural use

Aim. The comparison of the effect of hydrothermal conditions and various agricultural practices on the emission of CO 2 from chernozems in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. The dynamics of the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions from chernozem calcic (typical chernozem – in Ukrainian classifi cation) was studied during the growing season of 2011–2012. The observations were based on two fi eld experiments with various methods of soil till- age (6–7 years from the beginning of the experiment) and fertilization systems (21–22 years from the beginning of the experiment). Particularly, plowing at 20–22 cm, disking at 10–12 cm, cultivation at 6–8 cm and direct seeding using Great Plains drill were studied among the soil tillage methods. Mineral system (N 45 P 50 K 45 ), organic system (manure 8 t/ha) and combined organic-mineral system (manure 8 t/ha + N 45 P 50 K 45 ) were studied among fertilization systems. The intensity of CO 2 fl ux was determined using the non-stationary respiratory chambers by the alkaline absorption method, with averaging of the results during the day and the frequency of once a month. Results. During the warm period, the emission of carbon dioxide from the soil changes dynamically depending on temperature and humidity. The maximum of emission coincides with the periods of warm summer showers in June-July, the minimum values are characteristic for the late autumn period. The total emission losses of carbon in chernozems over the vegetation period ranged from 480 to 910 kg/ha and varied depending on the methods of tillage ± (4.0–6.0) % and fertilization systems ± (3.8–7.1) %. The changes in the intensity of CO 2 emission from the soil under different methods of soil tillage are associated with hydrothermal regime and the depth of crop residues location. The biggest difference is observed im- mediately after tillage, but in the spring period the differences are only 12–25 %, and after drying of the top layer of soil become even less. Direct seeding technology provides the greatest emission of CO 2 from chernozem, which is fa- cilitated by better water regime and more complete mineralization of plant residues on the soil surface. Annual losses of carbon are the least under disking of soil at 10–12 cm. The changes in the intensity of CO 2 emission from the soil under different fertilization systems are associated with the involvement of the additional organic matter from plant residues and manure to the microbiological decomposition. The greatest emission was observed under the organic- mineral fertilization system, which increased the loss of carbon by 7–8 % in comparison with the mineral system in the unfavorable hydrothermal year and by 11–15 % in the more favorable year. These differences are observed mainly during the fi rst half of the growing season when there is a clear tendency to increase the intensity of soil respiration. Conclusions. The hydrothermal conditions of the warm period of the year are decisive in the formation of the CO 2 emission fl ow from chernozems. Due to the improvement of agricultural practices, emissions might be reduced but not more that by 15 % of natural factor contribution.

Earthworms are little affected by reduced soil tillage methods in vineyards

Inter-rows in vineyards are commonly tilled in order to control weeds and/or to conserve water. While impacts of tillage on earthworms are well studied in arable systems, very little is known from vineyards. In an experimental vineyard, the impact of four reduced tillage methods on earthworms was examined: rotary hoeing, rotary harrowing, grubbing and no tillage. According to an erosion prevention programme, tillage was applied every other inter-row only while alternating rows retained vegetated. Earthworms were extracted from the treated inter-rows 10, 36, 162 and 188 days after tillage. Across dates, tillage methods had no effect on overall earthworm densities or biomass. Considering each sampling date separately, earthworm densities were affected only at day 36 after tillage leading to lower densities under rotary hoeing (150.7 ± 42.5 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) and no tillage (117.3 ± 24.8 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) than under rotary harrowing (340.0 ± 87.4 worms/m<sup>2</sup>) and grubbing (242.7 ± 43.9 worms/m<sup>2</sup>). Time since tillage significantly increased earthworm densities or biomass, and affected soil moisture and temperature. Across sampling dates, earthworm densities correlated positively with soil moisture and negatively with soil temperature; individual earthworm mass increased with increasing time since tillage. It was concluded that reduced tillage in vineyards has little impact on earthworms when applied in spring under dry soil conditions.

Review of soil tillage history and new challenges in Hungary

This study provides an overview of the development of soil tillage in Hungary. The primary goal is to present factors that have been promoting and hindering progress in tillage from the first authoritative records – from the eleventh century – up to now when soil tillage became a tool in the climate damage mitigation methods. Progress was restricted during the first eight hundred years of the history of tillage by lack of expertise and the use of primitive tools. In retrospect, much of the traditions are regarded as obstacles to progress while the adoption of certain foreign trends fostered development in most cases. The history of the development of tillage in Hungary is divided into seven eras, with equal positive and negative impacts on the quality of the soils. The quality of soils was threatened before 1900 primarily by the multi-ploughing systems, while reasonable tillage offered a chance for improvement. The geographical location of Hungary in Europe and the Hungarian language entailed a certain degree of isolation as well. It may have been the reason why Hungarian reasonable tillage could not become a forerunner of minimum tillage. New soil tillage methods developed abroad had influenced primarily education and experiments carried out in Hungary. After the regime change, however, such methods came to be driving progress in practice as well, thanks to a widened horizon. In 1998 soil conservation tillage were used on about 25 per cent of the total sown land, however, a decade and a half later the area cultivated by conservation methods had doubled. A survey conducted five years ago found that significant progress had been made in soil conservation tillage in dry seasons but the achievements are often eroded by return to the conventional modes during wet seasons.

Prevention of phytophag proliferation in sugar beet crop rotation

Purpose. To examine the efficiency of cultivation technology for sugar beet and localization of insecticides on the seeds in order to prevent mass propagation of herbivores.Methods. Field, laboratory-field, analytical, statistical.Results. Under the conditions of Uladovo-Liulynetska RBS, the best preceding crops of sugar beet that provided positive effect on reducing the number of herbivores and their damage were rape, sunflower, and fallow Under the conditions of Veselopodilska RBS, beetroot weevil and beet flea damaged young plant after winter wheat, while after fallow the damage was minimal. For plant mineral nutrition, under the conditions of Uladovo-Liulynetska RBS the number of beet in normal conditions ULRBS N120P80K120 a reduced number of beetroot weevil and beet beetle. Ploughing to a depth of 30–32 cm leads to increase in drilling beetle and reducing population density. The number beet flea beetles and weevils were the same in all the treatment of the experiment. When treating sugar beet seed with the insecticide Cruiser 600 FS 30 days after the sprouts appearance, the effectiveness against beetroot weevil was 81.4 %.Conclusions. To prevent the mass reproduction of herbivores in crops of sugar beet, crop rotation is recommended along with balanced plant nutrition and soil tillage methods, treating the seeds with insecticides of systemic and contact action.

Efficiency of different methods of soil tillage

Purpose. To study the effect of different technologies of soil tillage on agronomical and physical properties of soil and productivity of sunflower.Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical, analytical.Results. The field experiment was conducted in 2014/2015. The object of research was topsoil. Seeds of sunflower hybrid Yason were sown at the rate of 55,000 plants/ha. In the studied treatments of soil different agronomical and physical properties of soil were created. The most close to optimal soil properties were obtained after ploughing, which created the best conditions for plant development. Thus, at the ploughing to a depth of 20–22 cm the yield of sunflower seeds was 2.56 t/ha, while subsurface ploughing to a depth of 14–16 cm and disking to a depth of 8–10 cm resulted in yield of 2.43 t/ha and 2.29 t/ha, respectively, and no-till resulted in 1,90 t/ha. It was found that basic treatment of soil influences water consumption by plants. The research results showed that the costs of one ton of sunflower seeds had increased in the treatment with subsurface ploughing by 1.5 % and with shallow tillage by 2.6 %. The most expensive was no-till treatment (3681 UAH/t). It was by 34.4 % higher than treatment with ploughing.Conclusions. The results showed that growing sunflower is highly profitable given any main soil tillage. The best indexes of yield, profit and return were obtained in the treatment with ploughing.

Effect of Soil Texture and Tillage Method on Rice Yield and Methane Emission during Rice Cultivation in Paddy Soil

As the amount of rice straw collected increases, green manure crops are used to provide the needed organic matter. However, as green manure crops generate methane in the process of decomposition, we tested with different tillage depths in order to reduce the emission. The atmosphere temperature of the chamber was <TEX>$25{\sim}40^{\circ}C$</TEX> during the examination of methane and soil temperature was <TEX>$2{\sim}10^{\circ}C$</TEX> lower than air temperature. The redox potential (Eh) of the soil drastically fell right before irrigated transplanting and showed -300~-400 mV during the cultivating period of rice (7~106 days after transplant). When hairy vetch was incorporated to soil and the field was not irrigated, the generation of methane did not occur from 12 to 4 days before transplanting rice and started after irrigation. Regarding the pattern of methane generation during the cultivation of rice, methane was generated 7 days after transplanting, reached the pinnacle at by 63~74 days after transplanting, rapidly decreased after 86~94 days past transplanting and stopped after 106 days past transplanting. When tested by different soil types, methane emission gradually increased in loam and clay loam during early transplant, whereas it sharply increased in sandy loam. The total amount of methane emitted was highest in sandy loam, followed by loam and clay loam. In all three soil types, methane emission significantly reduced when tillage depth was 20 cm compared to 10 cm. The rice growths and yield were not affected by tillage depth. Therefore, reduction of methane emission could be achieved when application hairy vetch to the soil with tillage depth of 20 cm in paddy soil.

Self‐regeneration of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) as affected by seedling density and soil tillage method in a semi‐arid agroecosystem

AbstractVicia villosa Roth is a forage legume with the capability for biological N fixation and natural reseeding, which could contribute to sustainability in semi‐arid regions. This study aimed to determine (i) the relationship between vetch density, seed production and spontaneous seed dispersal; (ii) the impact of the post‐dispersal tillage treatment over the soil seedbank dynamics; and (iii) potential predation of the seedbank by feral pigeons. A density range between 50 and 200 plants m−2 did not influence seed production or seed dispersal. Shallow disc tillage (SDT) clearly favoured self‐regeneration, resulting in higher amount of emerged seedlings during autumn compared to no tillage (NT). Based on observed emergence data, the percentage of emerged seedlings under SDT and NT were 38 and 6% of the seedbank, respectively, during 18 months after plot harvest. The lowest emergence values registered under NT could be associated with higher pressure from natural predators, soil‐borne pathogens, seed decay by ageing and false breaks. The feral pigeon (Columba livia var.) might be considered the main cause of vetch seedbank depletion in this study. Under controlled conditions, a single pigeon is able to consume, on average, between 184 and 768 seeds per day, depending on seed exposure and alternative food sources availability.

Economic Efficiency of Selected Crops Cultivated under Different Technology of Soil Tillage

Abstract The objective of this study was the model comparison and economic evaluation of different methods of soil tillage and crop stand establishments used. Based on yield results (winter wheat, spring barley, and white mustard cultivated in three-crop rotation) from field experiments with conventional, conservation with minimum tillage, and no-tillage methods conducted at the site Prague-Ruzyně, model economic balances were evaluated. Prices of the main products were determined based on the yield results from the period 2010-2013 and the current market prices. In the individual tillage systems, the total costs of production of evaluated crops were counted up and profitability was calculated as a ratio of profit to total costs. The highest total costs of crop cultivation were identified in cereals under conventional soil tillage, on the contrary, the lowest in cereals cultivated under conservation tillage technology. As for the growing technologies, the highest profitability was found in winter wheat, as for the tillage methods, it was in the conservation variant with minimum tillage. The economic evaluation for individual crops was based on standards of growing technologies and particular work operations.