Effect of conservation tillage on yield of spring wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) and soil mineral nitrogen and carbon content

Abstract

Conservation farming practices using the least soil disturbance and straw-return benefits the crop agronomic attributes and soil nutrient accumulation. The four-year (2016-2019) research was conducted under randomized complete blocks design to explore the agronomic benefit of conservation tillage practices on wheat yield performance and on soil fertility parameters. The two straw treatments consisted of wheat straw-return to the notilled soil and straw incorporation into the conventionally tilled soil. The two tillage treatments were the no-tillage and conventional tillage control. These conservative tillage treatments were compared with the conventional tillage control. In comparison with conventional tillage, the conservation management practices of no-tilled soil, conventionally tilled soil, and no-tillage notably increased the yield by an average of 33, 26, and 18% respectively. Moreover, conservative tillage practices improved the soil nitratenitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and carbon contents in the 0-30 cm soil layer by 12, 9, and 15% respectively over conventional tillage, averaged across conventionally tilled soil, no-tilled soil, and no-tillage. The overall distribution of soil nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and carbon in the 0-30 cm soil layer with regard to conventionally tilled, no-tilled soil, and no-tillage was greater than conventional tillage, based on Principal Component Analysis. We concluded that conservation tillage practices could replace conventionally tilled practice with respect to productivity, soil mineral nitrogen, and carbon accumulation benefits. K e y w o r d s: agronomic traits, conservation agriculture, soil mineral nitrogen, no-till, C dynamics

Tillage Strategy and Nitrogen Fertilization Methods Influences on Selected Soil Quality Indicators and Spring Wheat Yield under Semi-Arid Environmental Conditions of the Loess Plateau, China

“…In this study, the soil NO 3 − -N increased at top soil layers as a result of soil amendments presented in Figure 4. This concurs with results reported by Sadiq et al [17] and Samaresh et al [59]. Nevertheless, the soil NO 3 − -N was noticeably lower at deep soil layers, maybe because the N fertilizers (organic and inorganic) was mostly incorporated into the topsoil, which kept the soil NO 3 − -N from leaching.…”

“…Under CT conditions with no N fertilization application, the growth of the wheat plants was negatively affected, and the root absorption rate decreased, as did organic N mineralization, vegetation absorption, and utilization efficiency, resulting in a decrease in the NH 4 + -N content. These results are consistent with those of [17,42,45].…”

“…Figure 6 showed that there was a very significant positive correlation between spring wheat yield and SWC, SOC, TN, NH 4 + -N, and N/P (p < 0.001), which was consistent with [17], and the correlation coefficients were 0.75, 0.86, 0.85, 0.65, and 0.77, respectively. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between yield and C/P, with a correlation coefficient of 0.44.…”

“…Plenty of techniques have been used to increase soil properties and crop yields. The most operative strategy is improving the organic input, for instance with the implementation of organic compost or manure [15,16] and a no-till system [17]. Barus et al [18], Peng et al [19], and kai et al [20] verified that different organic inputs, such as no-till, and manure application significantly improved soil quality attributes and crop yield.…”

Effects of five years conservation tillage for hedging against drought, stabilizing maize yield, and improving soil environment in the drylands of northern China

“…Moreover, in rainfall precipitation year (2019) that stresses on crop growth, SUS was most effective at hedging against drought, stabilizing yield, and avoiding large fluctuations in yield. In semi-arid areas of northwest China, conservation tillage can completely replace conventional tillage resulting in yield increases of 18.00% to 33.26% compared to conventional tillage [ 42 ]. In semi-arid Mediterranean agroecosystems in Europe, conservation tillage such as less tillage and less tillage with green manure cover increases yields by reducing soil erosion rates and protecting the soil [ 43 ].…”