Influence of primary tillage on some soil fertility indicators and corn yield

Abstract

Cultivated soils are constantly under stress, in particular, from anthropogenic pressure due to their tillage. At the same time, climate change, moisture deficit, trends in crop rotation and improved crop tillage technologies encourage farmers to pay more attention to tillage systems. In addition, this element of technology plays a significant role in ensuring the sustainability of the entire agrophytocenosis. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of different tillage practices on certain soil fertility indicators and corn yield. The research was carried out in 2021-2023 at the Dokuchaevske Experimental Field of the State Biotechnological University, which is located in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. The experimental design includes the study of different tillage methods: ploughing with PLN-4-35 at 25-27 cm (control); chisel local tillage with PC-2.5 at 33-35 cm; moldboardless tillage with PRN-31000 at 33-35 cm and discing with BDM-2.5 at 10-12 cm. The reaction of the soil to the main tillage in corn crops was determined through its main water and agrophysical parameters: moisture content, density and hardness. The results of the research showed that the condition of typical chernozem is almost the same after ploughing and moldboardless tillage with the PRN-31000 (“paraplough”). A slight increase in the density of the arable soil layer was found after the application of chisel and discing tillage. All tillage options created favourable conditions in the soil, as its hardness in the 0-20 cm soil layer was in the range of 13.3-15.1 kg/cm2. In corn crops, moisture reserves in the one-metre layer did not differ by tillage options. However, there was a tendency for its decrease in the variants with chisel and discing tillage compared to ploughing. For all variants of soil tillage, compared to ploughing, there was a significant decrease in corn grain yield. The practical significance of the results obtained is to optimise the regulation of water and physical properties of typical chernozem with the achievement of soil protection technologies and stabilisation of corn grain yields in the context of climate change and variability of modern production