Short-term effects of tillage and residue on spring maize yield through regulating root-shoot ratio in Northeast China

Abstract

In recent years, yield instability of spring maize becomes increasingly pronounced under the traditional cropping system. In 2014 and 2015, short-term effects of tillage (plow-till, rotary-till and no-till) and residue (removal and incorporation) on soil properties, maize growth and yield were investigated in a brown soil region. Our results indicated that short-term reduced tillage (rotary-till and no-till) and residue incorporation promoted soil properties and maize growth. Compared with plow-till, rotary-till and no-till decreased soil bulk density and compaction below the plough layer (~30 cm). The soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen and C:N of surface soil layers increased under the rotary-till (0-20 cm) and no-till (0-10 cm), which were higher in 0-30 cm soil layers for residue incorporation. For both years, root characteristics of root diameter (RAD) and root surface area density (RSD), biomass indexes of root biomass (RB), shoot biomass (SB) and root-shoot ratio (R:S) were increased under these short-term treatments. Although there were positive relationships between soil water content (SWC), C:N, RAD, RSD, RB, SB, R:S and yield, structural equation modeling showed maize yield was directly controlled by R:S. These findings will have important implications for improving the current cropping system (i.e., plow-till with residue removed) in this area.

Reduced tillage, but not organic matter input, increased nematode diversity and food web stability in European long‐term field experiments

“…Since lower values of CI are associated with faster rates of decomposition and nutrient turnover, our results suggest that changes in nematode communities under reduced tillage may contribute to the increased capability of the system to retain nutrients and store carbon (Griffiths et al, ). The higher relative and absolute abundance of herbivorous nematodes in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage is in line with previous studies (Brmež et al, ; Freckman & Ettema, ; Fu et al, ; Treonis et al, , ), and can be explained by a higher incidence of rootsin the field, stimulating this nematode group (Minton, ; You et al, ) Our results indicate a possible trade‐off in reduced tillage systems in terms of soil processes, and that in these types of systems care must be taken regarding the assessment and control of herbivorous nematodes. However, the higher alpha diversity, MI and SI found in reduced tillage could indicate that the activity of herbivorous populations might be controlled by a more stable and structured food web.…”

Conservation Tillage Impacts and Adaptations in Irrigated Corn Production in a Humid Climate

“…Mangalassery et al (2014) reported an increase in D b under NT in a 9-yr experiment in East Midlands of the U.K. Heard et al (1988), however, reported lower D b in NT systems than in plowed plots at 20-to 30-cm soil depths. In a 2-yr study, You et al (2017) reported no significant effect of increased D b and compaction on spring corn yield in China. In the Argentine Pampas, in general, increases in D b under NT were negligible, averaging about 4% (Alvarez and Steinbach, 2009).…”

Film mulching optimizes the early root and shoot development of rain‐fed spring maize

“…Canopy is the direct foundation of crop yield, and shoot is clearly the highest priority from an economic view point. Obviously, crops that can access the required soil resources at a lower cost are more productive (Lynch & Ho, ; Lynch et al., ; You et al., ). There were no significant differences between CK and FM in terms of root biomass at the V3 stage (Figure 4a; Table ), but the RL of CK was dramatically increased (Figure 4c; Table ); CK intended to distribute 4–9% more root biomass in deeper soil layer (10–30 cm underground; Table ).…”