The effect of tillage methods on the cellulose-decomposing activity of the soil and on crop yields in crop rotations

Abstract

In the conditions of the Chuvash Republic in a long-term stationary experiment there has been studied the effect of crop rotations (grain- fallow and green manure) and methods of primary tilling of soil (by the plow PLN-3-35 to the depth of 24-26 cm; by the combined unit KOS-3.0 to 14-16 cm; by the disc header BDM-4-3.2 to 10-12 cm without autumn tilling) on the cellulose-decomposing activity of the soil by the method of setting up flax linen and on the crop yield. The article provides 2016-2020 data. It has been established that plowing increased the total soil porosity (55.3…63.5 %) and provided maximum decomposing of flax linen (42.9…51.3 %). Absence of primary soil tilling led to the statistically significant decrease in the porosity (50.8…59.3 %) and cellulose-decomposing activity (36.1…43.9 %). Maximum yield of crops in crop rotation was obtained by cultivation according to traditional plowing. When replacing plowing by subsoil tillage the use of combined stubble cultivator KOS-3.0 was the best variant. Primary tillage of soil to the depth of 14-16 cm using KOS-3.0 unit instead of plowing led to the significant yield decrease (by 0.29 t/ha) of spring vetch only. Among other cultures of crop rotation there was no significant yield decrease. Complete rejection of autumn soil tillage led to 16-25 % yield loss in grain crops. Plowing to the depth of arable layer (24-26 cm) as primary autumn tillage of soil increased the fertility indicators of dark-gray wooded soil (its total porosity, cellulose-decomposing activity) and yield of cultures in crop rotation. But when changing over to resource saving technologies for primary autumn tilling of soil under grain crops the combined unit stubble cultivator KOS-3.0 should be used.