In many regions, conservation tillage has been shown to contribute to preserving soil properties. However, in order to promote this practice in new areas, it is necessary to generate information about its results in local environmental conditions. Our objective was to study the effect of No Tillage (NT), Vertical Tillage (VT) and Conventional Tillage (CT) on physical soil properties of a clay loam soil and on yields (Avena sativa L.), in a semiarid area of Mexico. From 2013 to 2016 an experiment was conducted in random blocks, with the three tillage systems as treatments. Four variables were measured; bulk density (Bd), pore space (P), hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and crop yield. Our results did show scarce differences between the tillage systems. Values ranged between 1.21 g cm−3 to 1.39 g cm−3 for Bd, 45% to 55% for P, and 4.29 mm h−1 to 13.61 mm h−1 for Ks. Although differences were not significant among treatments, Bd decreased 6.7% for CT, 5.6% for NT and 0.7% for VT. P increased 6% for CT, 5% for NT and 0.5% for VT. Ks for CT decreased 6% more than for NT and VT. Average yield was 13% less in NT compared to CT and VT. A long-term investigation is needed in order to determine the effects of tillage methods, in our particular environmental conditions.

Energy used for tillage is an input with a high impact on the cost of crop production; it is desirable to till the soil using minimum energy. The objective of this study was to compare the specific energy expenditure, effect on soil bulk density, and forage yield of maize, by three tillage systems: Disk plow/Disk Harrow/planter (DDP), Chisel plow/Disk harrow/planter (CHDP) and No-Tillage (NT). Energy was measured for tillage operations in the summer season of 2013, 2016, and 2017. Bulk density in 2013 and 2016. Yield in 2013 and 2014. The variables of drawbar force (kN), working speed (m s−1), width (m), depth (m), fuel consumption (L ha−1), bulk density (g cm−3), and dry matter yield (Mg ha−1) were measured. Results showed that there were significant differences in the amount of energy used per ha; DDP used an average of 379.75 MJ, CHDP 135.01 MJ, and NT 26.43 MJ. The average energy applied to the soil mass for each system was 400 J kg−1 for DDP, 255.13 J kg−1 for CHDP, and for NT was 237.8 J kg−1. The overall energy efficiency was; 18.23% for DDP, 6.88% for CHDP, and 4.77% for N. The bulk density decreased significantly after three years for NT. There were no significant differences in dry matter yield. In the semiarid condition of Mexico, CHDP and NT are options for saving from 64% to 93% of energy, compared with DDP.

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Por la creciente demanda de productos agrícolas y el incremento en los costos de los fertilizantes químicos, asociado a la contaminación que éstos pueden ocasionar al medio ambiente, es necesario desarrollar otras alternativas sustentables para la producción agrícola. Con la bofertilización, se podrían mitigar estos problemas, y a su vez incrementar el rendimiento de los cultivos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de fertilizantes biológicos derivados de algas marinas aplicados al suelo y al follaje en un maíz forrajero (Zea mays L.). Las variables de respuesta fueron: contenido relativo de clorofila, tasa de transporte de electrones, altura de planta, diámetro del tallo y peso seco de la planta. La investigación se realizó durante el ciclo verano-otoño 2011 en Torreón, Coahuila, México. Se evaluaron dos tratamientos. Con y Sin fertilizantes biológicos, Los fertilizantes derivados de extractos de algas marinas aplicados fueron: 1 L ha-1 del compuestoAlgaenzimsMRy0.5Lha-1 deAlZincBMR.Eldiseño fue completamente al azar. Cada tratamiento se repitió 10 veces. Las plantas que recibieron fertilización biológica mostraron valores mayores (p≤ 0.05) de contenido relativo de clorofila (32.4%) y tasa de transporte de electrones (17.8%), que resultó en un incremento (p≤ 0.05) en: altura de planta (17.3%), diámetro de tallo (10.5%) y peso seco de planta (14.8%) respecto a las plantas sin aplicación de fertilizantes biológicos.