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For economic, environmental, and climatic reasons, soil cultivation methods without the use of a plough have became increasingly popular in recent decades. As research has shown, their impact on the growth and yield of crops is not always positive, especially when direct sowing is used. Recently, a new solution in the field of tillage has appeared which involves loosening the soil only within the sowing zone, which is called strip till. In the research presented in this work, this method was used for various cultivars of winter wheat on uncultivated stubble, but also after cultivation of the stubble just after harvest of a forecrop. The aim of the paper was to define the impact of the aforementioned factors on the parameters of photosynthesis, leaf area index, and water use efficiency. The range of soil cultivation after the harvest of the forecrop and cultivars influenced significantly the measured photosynthesis parameters. The impact of the cultivation method and variety on water use efficiency was small, although it should be noted that limiting the intensity of cultivation after the forecrop harvest had a temporary positive impact on the flag leaf phase. The winter wheat cultivar had an impact on the yield obtained: Formacja (0.44 t ha-1) and Metronom (0.37 t ha-1) yielded higher than Desamo. In the case of plough tillage, the yield was higher than in the case of minimum tillage and no tillage. Given the economic and environmental benefits associated with reduced fuel consumption, no tillage with a relatively slightly lower yield may be an alternative to the use of plough tillage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Technical Review is the property of Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digestate is commonly used as a liquid organic fertilizer, as it contains nutrients that are important for plant growth and thus help reduce usage of mineral fertilizers. Since the digestate application leads to the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, it is necessary to find a suitable application method and fertilizer rate with minimal gas emissions while providing sufficient nutrients to crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected GHGs and ammonia (NH3) release into the atmosphere and different rates of digestate applied, i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 m3 ha−1. Two digestate incorporation methods were used, i.e., a disc application unit (D) and strip-till (S). The fluxes, i.e., methane (CH4), ammonia, and carbon dioxide (CO2), were monitored using the wind tunnel method. Crop growth and potential nutrient utilization by silage maize were assessed through stand condition monitoring by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) using remote sensing. Under the given conditions, the digestate rates and the compared application methods had significant effects on the level of fluxes. The rate of digestate was confirmed to affect the yield of silage maize. The yield increased by more than 8% when using the disc applicator. Based on our results, it is advisable to apply digestate by strip-till technology at rates of approximately 20 m3 ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Root system architecture (RSA) is important for nutrient and water acquisition efficiency. The adaptation of root growth and RSA to soil structure under conservative strip tillage (ST) system warrants further investigation. Methods: A three-year field experimentation was conducted in Northeast China to investigate the RSA and dynamic root growth of rain-fed maize under ST system by comparison with the conventional tillage (CT). Results: Grain yield in ST and CT was not significantly different, but their yield components differed. Compared to CT, grain number per ear was reduced by 4.4%, while 1000-grain weight was increased by 6.6% in ST. Root growth in ST plants was inhibited in the vegetative stage, as indicated by the reduced total root length (by 27.7–40.1%) compared to CT. During post-silking stage, the total root length was not different between ST and CT plants but the root xylem bleeding rate in ST plants was 70.7%-449.9% greater than that in CT. The uneven horizontal distribution of soil bulk density and soil temperature made the RSA of ST plants steeper compared to CT. Moreover, the D95 of root distribution in ST plant roots was greater. Conclusions: In ST system, colder, more compacted soil in the inter-row soil likely caused the lower root growth and consequently lower shoot dry matter during the vegetative stage. However, root senescence was delayed which was beneficial for water and nitrogen acquisition during grain filling. Strategies to improve early root growth may increase maize productivity in ST systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two major concerns of sustainable agriculture are safeguarding food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies on the performance of strip-till with controlled-release blended fertilizer on rainfed maize grain yield, greenhouse gas emissions, and net ecosystem economic budget are scarce in the hilly region of northeast China. In this study, the differences between strip-till (RST) and conventional ridge cropping (CP), straw off-field no-tillage (NT), and no-tillage with straw mulching (RNT) were comparatively investigated in the conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode. And meanwhile, four fertilization modes were also set up under strip-till (RST): conventional fertilization (Sd), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 3:7 (30%Cr), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr), and no-nitrogen fertilization. We analyzed maize yield, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), net income and net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) for different treatments. The results showed that, under conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode, the maize yield of RST increased by 4.2%, 6.0% and 7.2% compared with NT, CP and RNT and the net income increased by 7.0%, 9.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Compared with CP and NT, although RST increased CO2 and N2O emissions, the GHGI of RST was not significantly different from CP and NT, and was 8.0% lower than that of RNT. The NEEB of RST increased by 6.8%, 9.7% and 11.0%, respectively, compared with NT, CP and RNT. Under strip-till, compared with 30%Cr and Sd, the yield of 50%Cr increased by 4.0% and 9.2% and the net income increased by 3.5% and 6.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in GHGI between 50%Cr and 30%Cr, and 50%Cr decreased by 10.4% compared with Sd. The NEEB of 50%Cr increased by 3.8% and 7.4% compared to 30%Cr and Sd. Strip-till combines controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr) and can be applied as a sustainable strategy to improve the economic efficiency of maize and reduce environmental costs in the hilly region of northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the progress of tillage in Hungary. The local and international impacts on the national practice are summarized, and some adoption of the conservation tillage results is presented concerning Hungary. The interest in conservation agriculture in Hungary dates back almost 120 years; however, any significant changes only occurred in the last 50 years. Interestingly, the factors of progress and restraint in tillage have appeared simultaneously over the years. Among the factors restraining tillage progress, the most retarding were the beliefs that have existed for many decades, as soil conservation was not considered nor was the need to mitigate climate-related hazards. Progress was driven by the commitment to soil protection, the opportunity to raise farming standards, and the need to mitigate climate-related threats. Since the average yield in Hungary was usually sufficient for the domestic need, the main objective of crop production was to avoid yield loss. Long-term experimental data and monitoring results were considered for this study. The impacts of new tillage solutions, elaborated in foreign countries, on tillage modernization were reviewed. The experiences and first results in no-till (direct drilling) and strip-tillage showed that difficulties can gradually be reduced through site-specific technology solutions. The need for subsoiling is not a matter of debate nowadays but rather the timing of operation and the investigation of the duration of the effects. Due to its complex advantages, tine tillage occupies an increasing rank among soil conservation systems. The area of ploughed soils has decreased; however, improved implementation is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article presents an overview of the role of carbon farming in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon in soil and vegetation. The article highlights the potential of remote sensing technology for monitoring carbon farming practices and CO2 absorption. Carbon farming practices, such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, and agroforestry, are discussed. The article explains the application of remote sensing technology, including satellite-based remote sensing, aerial photography, and ground-based sensors, in monitoring changes in carbon sequestration and CO2 absorption. The article concludes that remote sensing technology provides a powerful tool for monitoring carbon farming and CO2 absorption and is likely to become even more effective in the future as technology continues to advance. Article in English. Nuotolinių tyrimų taikymas anglies ūkininkavimo stebėsenai: apžvalga Santrauka Šiame moksliniame straipsnyje apžvelgiamas anglies ūkininkavimo vaidmuo švelninant klimato kaitą, kaupiant anglį dirvožemyje ir augmenijoje. Straipsnyje pabrėžiamas nuotolinio stebėjimo technologijos potencialas stebint anglies ūkininkavimo praktiką ir CO2 absorbciją. Aptariamos anglies dioksido ūkininkavimo praktikos, pvz., tausojantis žemės dirbimas, dengiamųjų augalų auginimas, sėjomaina ir agrarinė miškininkystė. Nagrinėjamas nuotolinio stebėjimo technologijų, įskaitant palydovinius vaizdus, aerofotografiją, antžeminius jutiklius, taikymas, stebint anglies kaupimo ir CO2 absorbcijos pokyčius. Straipsnyje daroma išvada, kad nuotolinio stebėjimo technologija yra galingas įrankis anglies kaupimui ir CO2 absorbcijai stebėti, o, technologijoms tobulėjant, ateityje greičiausiai taps dar veiksmingesnis. Reikšminiai žodžiai: nuotoliniai tyrimai, palydoviniai vaizdai, CO2, anglies ūkininkavimas, beariminė žemdirbystė.

Digestate is commonly used as a liquid organic fertilizer, as it contains nutrients that are important for plant growth and thus help reduce usage of mineral fertilizers. Since the digestate application leads to the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, it is necessary to find a suitable application method and fertilizer rate with minimal gas emissions while providing sufficient nutrients to crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected GHGs and ammonia (NH3) release into the atmosphere and different rates of digestate applied, i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 m3 ha−1. Two digestate incorporation methods were used, i.e., a disc application unit (D) and strip-till (S). The fluxes, i.e., methane (CH4), ammonia, and carbon dioxide (CO2), were monitored using the wind tunnel method. Crop growth and potential nutrient utilization by silage maize were assessed through stand condition monitoring by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) using remote sensing. Under the given conditions, the digestate rates and the compared application methods had significant effects on the level of fluxes. The rate of digestate was confirmed to affect the yield of silage maize. The yield increased by more than 8% when using the disc applicator. Based on our results, it is advisable to apply digestate by strip-till technology at rates of approximately 20 m3 ha−1.

The two major concerns of sustainable agriculture are safeguarding food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Studies on the performance of strip-till with controlled-release blended fertilizer on rainfed maize grain yield, greenhouse gas emissions, and net ecosystem economic budget are scarce in the hilly region of northeast China. In this study, the differences between strip-till (RST) and conventional ridge cropping (CP), straw off-field no-tillage (NT), and no-tillage with straw mulching (RNT) were comparatively investigated in the conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode. And meanwhile, four fertilization modes were also set up under strip-till (RST): conventional fertilization (Sd), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 3:7 (30%Cr), controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr), and no-nitrogen fertilization. We analyzed maize yield, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), net income and net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB) for different treatments. The results showed that, under conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode, the maize yield of RST increased by 4.2%, 6.0% and 7.2% compared with NT, CP and RNT and the net income increased by 7.0%, 9.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Compared with CP and NT, although RST increased CO2 and N2O emissions, the GHGI of RST was not significantly different from CP and NT, and was 8.0% lower than that of RNT. The NEEB of RST increased by 6.8%, 9.7% and 11.0%, respectively, compared with NT, CP and RNT. Under strip-till, compared with 30%Cr and Sd, the yield of 50%Cr increased by 4.0% and 9.2% and the net income increased by 3.5% and 6.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in GHGI between 50%Cr and 30%Cr, and 50%Cr decreased by 10.4% compared with Sd. The NEEB of 50%Cr increased by 3.8% and 7.4% compared to 30%Cr and Sd. Strip-till combines controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer blended with normal urea 5:5 (50%Cr) and can be applied as a sustainable strategy to improve the economic efficiency of maize and reduce environmental costs in the hilly region of northeast China.

The dynamics of soil moisture and its temperature is an important criterion for evaluating soil tillage technology in terms of achieving plant production stability. Understanding changes in soil moisture and temperature depending on rainfall and air temperature is necessary to develop application models for agriculture 4.0. A hypothesis was adopted assuming that the dynamics of soil moisture and its thermal properties will depend on the technology of cultivation. Hence, the aim of the research was to learn the dynamics of soil moisture and temperature during a growing season using strip and conventional tillage. Soil moisture was monitored using TDR probes in the row and inter-row of winter barley using plowing and strip-till techniques. Soil temperature was also monitored. Measurements were made every 5 min. In the most important period for the growth and development of barley vegetation, the soil in the strip-till was characterized by greater moisture (3.6% v/v on average) and greater stability than was the case with plowing. The soil in the strip-till was cooler (an average of 0.64 °C), but more stable than in plowing—temporary temperature differences in ST vs. PT reached even more than 5 °C. Strip-till therefore mitigates weather extremes to a greater extent than plowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article presents an overview of the role of carbon farming in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon in soil and vegetation. The article highlights the potential of remote sensing technology for monitoring carbon farming practices and CO2 absorption. Carbon farming practices, such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, and agroforestry, are discussed. The article explains the application of remote sensing technology, including satellite-based remote sensing, aerial photography, and ground-based sensors, in monitoring changes in carbon sequestration and CO2 absorption. The article concludes that remote sensing technology provides a powerful tool for monitoring carbon farming and CO2 absorption and is likely to become even more effective in the future as technology continues to advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomy Science is the property of University of Life Sciences in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agronomy Science is the property of University of Life Sciences in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper provides an overview of the progress of tillage in Hungary. The local and international impacts on the national practice are summarized, and some adoption of the conservation tillage results is presented concerning Hungary. The interest in conservation agriculture in Hungary dates back almost 120 years; however, any significant changes only occurred in the last 50 years. Interestingly, the factors of progress and restraint in tillage have appeared simultaneously over the years. Among the factors restraining tillage progress, the most retarding were the beliefs that have existed for many decades, as soil conservation was not considered nor was the need to mitigate climate-related hazards. Progress was driven by the commitment to soil protection, the opportunity to raise farming standards, and the need to mitigate climate-related threats. Since the average yield in Hungary was usually sufficient for the domestic need, the main objective of crop production was to avoid yield loss. Long-term experimental data and monitoring results were considered for this study. The impacts of new tillage solutions, elaborated in foreign countries, on tillage modernization were reviewed. The experiences and first results in no-till (direct drilling) and strip-tillage showed that difficulties can gradually be reduced through site-specific technology solutions. The need for subsoiling is not a matter of debate nowadays but rather the timing of operation and the investigation of the duration of the effects. Due to its complex advantages, tine tillage occupies an increasing rank among soil conservation systems. The area of ploughed soils has decreased; however, improved implementation is required.

In difficult economic realities, the primary task in growing crops is to reduce costs in compliance with quality requirements. At the same time, environmental safety issues are becoming more and more obvious. Lack of knowledge or poor technical settings often result in catastrophic consequences due to unreasonable chemicals application and increases emergency risks in agriculture. In this regard, chemical plant protection requires special attention in terms of safety management. The method of strip chemical treatment of crops reduces the effects of chemically hazardous substances on plants, emphasizing the importance and relevance of the research direction. Based on the analysis of production costs for chemical treatment, the shortcomings of serial machines for chemical plant treatment were identified. A technology and technical solution for strip spraying with redistribution of operating solutions to the exposure objects, considering plant growth stage, were proposed. It allowed to accurately adding the active substance to the object, which caused decrease in application rate per hectare, reduction of plant stress, and saving in costs for chemical treatment. Simultaneously, it contributed to the solution of environmental problems by reducing chemical load on soil. This method reduces the risk of emergencies when using chemically hazardous substances in agriculture.

Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs among the most important agriculture crops all over the world. The conventional way of cultivating maize with wide row spacing does not have a soil conservation effect and significantly contributes to water erosion and surface run-off. In our research, we tested the soil conservation technology (strip-till into grass cover) which took place in 2016 and 2017 in the location of Central Bohemia. The impact of a strip-till system of maize into grass cover on reducing the soil loss due to erosion was verified on the area of 21 m2 using a rainfall simulator. During the research, 70 measurements were realised. The strip-till was compared to fallow land, conventional cultivation and no-till methods. Profound differences were found in the soil loss between the treatments. There was a decrease in the soil loss of about 98% in the strip-till compared to the conventional cultivation. Moreover, the surface run-off was reduced by 79%. The ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) models of the log-transformed soil loss on the surface run-off and treatment were highly significant (P < 10-15). The measurement results clearly demonstrate the positive effect of the strip-till into the grass on the surface run-off and soil loss. This positive soil conservation effect was observed even in springtime, as well as the rest of the season. Using a grass cover for establishing the maize significantly contributes to the soil conservation on the land threatened by erosion and offers farmers a suitable way of farming when growing maize. Strip-tilling is a technology that has great potential in sustainable farming.

When growing crop products, it is important to use an integrated approach at the stages of planning technological operations and developing technical means for their implementation. In this case, the best result is achieved when coordinating operations on mechanical and chemical tillage, which provides for the protection and nutrition of plants. Along with this, it is important to consider following the applied technology to environmental principles, since agriculture directly affects the environment of our planet. Resource-saving technologies help preserve nature for future generations, restore natural fertility and take care of economic well-being. For row crops, the use of Strip-till technology is recommended. This requires 20...30% of all costs to direct to chemical treatment. Obviously, a decrease in the chemical effect on the soil during the transition to strip technology is necessary, and the introduced chemical should be redirected strictly to the target. A technical solution for the adaptation of serial sprayers is proposed, which consists of the use of strip spraying with the ability to accurately add and redistribute the working solution to the objects of influence, considering stage of plant development. This allows to reduce hectare application rates and stress of cultivated plants, and to save money on chemical processing. In addition, it also helps to solve environmental problems by reducing the chemical load on the soil. The proposed approach and technical solution make it possible to supplement the complex of machines for mechanical tillage in the framework of strip technology and reduce the chemical load on the biosphere.

The dynamics of soil moisture and its temperature is an important criterion for evaluating soil tillage technology in terms of achieving plant production stability. Understanding changes in soil moisture and temperature depending on rainfall and air temperature is necessary to develop application models for agriculture 4.0. A hypothesis was adopted assuming that the dynamics of soil moisture and its thermal properties will depend on the technology of cultivation. Hence, the aim of the research was to learn the dynamics of soil moisture and temperature during a growing season using strip and conventional tillage. Soil moisture was monitored using TDR probes in the row and inter-row of winter barley using plowing and strip-till techniques. Soil temperature was also monitored. Measurements were made every 5 min. In the most important period for the growth and development of barley vegetation, the soil in the strip-till was characterized by greater moisture (3.6% v/v on average) and greater stability than was the case with plowing. The soil in the strip-till was cooler (an average of 0.64 °C), but more stable than in plowing—temporary temperature differences in ST vs. PT reached even more than 5 °C. Strip-till therefore mitigates weather extremes to a greater extent than plowing.

Studies carried out in steppe zone of chernozem soils of Volgograd region have established that winter wheat after fallow and maize are the best precursors for maize, cultivated for grain under strip-till technology. Growing maize after sunflower annually led to a significant decrease in crop yields. N66P32K32 turned to be the best rate of mineral fertilizers. Seeding rate of 60 thousand seeds per ha was optimal for early maize hybrids. It was found that total water consumption over the three-year period was 2653 m³/ha with fertilizer rate N66P32K32, and corn and sunflower rose to 2,700 and 2,695 m³/ha. At N66P32K32, winter wheat plants used moisture most economically. The water consumption coefficient, which shows moisture consumption for creation of a ton of produce, was 421.0 m3/t. For corn, it increased by 34.1, and for sunflower by 247.7 m³/t. In control after all precursors, moisture consumption per ton of grain sharply increased: according to winter wheat, water consumption coefficient was equal to 551.9 m³/t, corn and sunflower were 53.0 and 360.1 m³/t more. The maximum values of dry matter accumulation in 2013 and 2015 were recorded at flowering stage: depending on precursor, after winter wheat - 9.07 and 7.24 t/ha, after maize - 8.67 and 6.77, and after sunflower - 6.64 and 4.76 t/ha, respectively. Over the research years the largest daily increasing of dry biomass during germination-flowering was observed after winter wheat - 452 and 361 kg/ha, decreased slightly after corn - 432 and 337 kg/ha, and a significant decrease was noted after sunflower - 331 and 237 kg/ha. In arid 2014 season, during the period of precipitation deficit, the indicators were significantly lower. The best yield results were obtained in more favorable 2013 and 2015 research years. The studies showed that the best maize precursor was winter wheat - 5.524 t/ha. The lowest yield was obtained after sunflower - 3,456 t/ha. Moreover, maximum yield was achieved at fertilizer application N66P32K32 - 5.324 t/ha, N50P16K16 - 4.813 t/ha and in the control - 4.015 t/ha.

A two-factor field experiment using sugar beet was conducted in 2016–2018 at Sokołowo in Poland (ϕ 53°5′16.05″ N, λ 19°6′21.07″ E), in a strip-plot arrangement with four replicates. Strip-till (ST) was compared to conventional tillage (CT) using four commercial sugar beet varieties (Alegra, Armesa, Contenta, Julius). In each study year, the experiment was established on lessivé soils developed from heavy loamy sand. The soil was rich in available macronutrients, while its reaction was neutral. The plant density, sugar yield, roots quality, and technological sugar yield were determined. A significant increase was found in root yield (6.6%) and, accordingly, in technological sugar yield (8.2%) in ST treatment relative to CT. Consistently, an increasing trend was observed for the root sugar content (0.21%). For the varieties examined, no preferences were observed in respect of tillage systems applied. The direction of changes in root yield, sugar content, and technological sugar yield remained constant regardless of the variety, tillage system, or the study year. The contents of potassium, sodium, and α-amino-nitrogen responded equally to both the variety and study year; however, the direction of changes in the above parameters was ambiguous and varied among the study years.

Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs among the most important agriculture crops all over the world. The conventional way of cultivating maize with wide row spacing does not have a soil conservation effect and significantly contributes to water erosion and surface run-off. In our research, we tested the soil conservation technology (strip-till into grass cover) which took place in 2016 and 2017 in the location of Central Bohemia. The impact of a strip-till system of maize into grass cover on reducing the soil loss due to erosion was verified on the area of 21 m² using a rainfall simulator. During the research, 70 measurements were realised. The strip-till was compared to fallow land, conventional cultivation and no-till methods. Profound differences were found in the soil loss between the treatments. There was a decrease in the soil loss of about 98% in the strip-till compared to the conventional cultivation. Moreover, the surface run-off was reduced by 79%. The ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) models of the log-transformed soil loss on the surface run-off and treatment were highly significant (P < 10-15). The measurement results clearly demonstrate the positive effect of the strip-till into the grass on the surface run-off and soil loss. This positive soil conservation effect was observed even in springtime, as well as the rest of the season. Using a grass cover for establishing the maize significantly contributes to the soil conservation on the land threatened by erosion and offers farmers a suitable way of farming when growing maize. Strip-tilling is a technology that has great potential in sustainable farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Conservation agriculture has three main pillars, i.e., minimum tillage, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation. Covering the soil surface with plant residues and minimum mechanical soil disturbance can all result from introducing a strip-till one-pass (ST-OP) system. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the ST-OP technology on the management of plant residues, soil properties, inputs, and emissions related to crop cultivation. We compared the effect of a ST-OP system against conventional tillage (CT) using a plough, and against reduced, non-ploughing tillage (RT). Four field experiments were conducted for evaluating the covering of soil with plant residues of the previous crop, soil loss on a slope exposed to surface soil runoff, soil structure and aggregate stability, occurrence of soil organisms and glomalin content, soil moisture and soil water reserve during plant sowing, labour and fuel inputs, and CO2 emissions. After sowing plants using ST-OP, 62.7–82.0% of plant residues remained on the soil surface, depending on the previous crop and row spacing. As compared with CT, the ST-OP system increased the stability of soil aggregates of 0.25–2.0 mm diameter by 12.7%, glomalin content by 0.08 g·kg−1, weight of earthworms five-fold, bacteria and fungi counts, and moisture content in the soil; meanwhile, it decreased soil loss by 2.57–6.36 t·ha−1 year−1, labour input by 114–152 min·ha−1, fuel consumption by 35.9–45.8 l·ha−1, and CO2 emissions by 98.7–125.9 kg·ha−1. Significant favourable changes, as compared with reduced tillage (RT), were also found with respect to the stability index of aggregates of 2.0–10.0 mm diameter, the number and weight of earthworms, as well as bacteria and fungi counts.

Strip-till (ST) is a conservation tillage wherein the "inter-row" is not tilled and remains covered with protective residues, while the "row zone" is strip tilled. In comparison to conventional ridge tillage (CT), maize yield under ST is maintained due to its growth recovery at grain filling stage (GFS), though its growth lag at early growth stage in cold regions. To explore microbial mechanisms underlying the growth recovery, compared with CT, we investigated relationships among rhizosphere ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria (AOA and AOB), rhizosphere soil characteristics, and maize growth under ST through a two-year field experiment in a Mollisol of Northeast China. Compared with CT, ST led to rhizosphere NO 3 --N accumulation at 0–5 cm location, which positively correlated with maize N accumulation and growth at GFS. ST significantly affected rhizosphere AOA and AOB communities at 0–5 and 20–30 cm locations, and decreased AOA abundance, norank_p_ Thaumarchaeota relative abundance and bio-markers, but increased AOB abundance, richness, Nitrosospira relative abundance and bio-markers at 0–5 cm location. ST obviously increased the number of OTU hubs belonging to AOB Nitrosospira in networks and their complexity at 0–5 cm location. AOB community play a more important function role than AOA at 0–5 cm location. Rhizosphere NO 3 --N accumulation, maize N accumulation and growth recovery were closely related with AOB (especially Nitrosospira), but not AOA. It is concluded that, in contrast to CT, ST mainly stimulate rhizosphere AOB activity at 0–5 cm location (especially Nitrosospira) during grain filling stage, which contributes to more rhizosphere NO 3 --N accumulation and maize N absorption and faster growth. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for efficient crop-soil management to increase maize productivity under conservation tillage system. • Maize growth recovery in strip-till relied on its N absorption at filling stage. • Strip-till increased topsoil rhizosphere NO 3 --N related to maize N accumulation. • Strip-till enhanced topsoil rhizosphere AOB copies, richness, Nitrosospira abundance. • Strip-till enhanced topsoil network complexity, hubs of Nitrosospira , AOB centrality. • Topsoil rhizosphere NO 3 --N accumulation, maize growth recovery in relation to AOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper has been to determine the importance of the strip-till method for the content of carbon and the quality of organic matter as compared with plough and ploughless tillage. The question to answer has been to what extent strip-till can contribute to carbon sequestration and thus be part of the strategy of counteracting climate change. The research involved soil where conventional tillage (CT), strip-till (ST), and reduced tillage (RT) were applied. These systems differ completely in the way they affect the post-harvest residue, i.e., “plant residue management”. For air-dry soil samples, the following analyses were made: the content of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (Nt), content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved nitrogen (DNt), and the fractional composition of humus. In the surface layer the content of TOC ranged from 11.96 (CT) to 13.88 g kg−1 (RT) and DOC ranged from 209.9 (CT) to 230.5 mg kg−1 (ST). The share of the fraction of fluvic acids (0–15 cm layer) changed from 15.51% (RT) to 18.81% (ST), the share of the fraction of humic acids was 9.36% (ST) to 11.60%, and humins were 68.90% (CT) to 72.6% (RT). These results demonstrated that the tillage system determines the properties of the organic matter of soil. In the surface layer (0–15 cm) and in the 30–50 cm layer the properties of the soil organic matter under strip-till had a greater similarity to the soil under ploughless tillage than under conventional tillage. Ploughless tillage and strip-till considerably limited the leaching of carbon and nitrogen from the surface layer to the 30–50 cm layer. Strip-till, similarly to ploughless tillage, is the tillage method which can be crucial for the process of carbon sequestration.

Recent European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) forces Flemish farmers in the Belgian loess belt to combat soil erosion on high erosion sensitive parcels. A possible measure against erosion is the application of reduced tillage operations. To evaluate the efficiency of reduced tillage practices, erosion rates of a maize field under conventional tillage, non-inversion tillage and strip-till were compared, all with and without wheel track compaction. To assess erosion rates, 20 min rainfall simulations in combination with fallout radionuclide (FRN) 7 Be measurements were used. At the small plot scale (5 m²), runoff coefficient, suspended sediment concentration and soil loss were measured directly during rainfall simulation in order to compare the effect of the different tillage treatments and the effect of wheel track compaction. After the rainfall simulations soil samples were taken for 7 Be analysis to explore spatial patterns in soil redistribution within the different plots. Furthermore, a total soil redistribution budget was obtained based on the 7 Be measurements and validated with the direct erosion measurements during the rainfall simulations. Direct measurements showed a significant decrease in runoff coefficient, suspended sediment concentration and total soil loss in the non-inversion and strip-till treatments compared to the conventional tillage treatment. No difference was observed between the non-inversion and strip-till treatment. For all treatments, wheel track compaction increased runoff coefficients and soil loss. The 7 Be measurements confirmed overall trends observed during the rainfall simulations, with high soil losses in the conventional treatment (5.96 ± 1.37 kg–6.23 ± 2.36 kg) and a decrease in soil loss with the non-inversion (1.50 ± 0.34 kg–1.95 ± 0.54 kg) and the strip-till treatment (−0.19 ± 0.60 kg–0.10 ± 2.50 kg). However, 7 Be-derived net erosion estimates overestimated total soil loss per plot compared to the direct measurements. The appropriateness of correction factors, like particle size correction and variations in relaxation mass depth, to improve the tracer based assessment of absolute soil loss values was evaluated. Spatial patterns in soil redistribution clearly reflected the sediment and runoff buffering capacity of the inter-row area in the strip-till treatment, while higher erosion rates were observed in the plant rows. Yet, sample representativeness to construct the soil erosion budget is a key consideration in light of discrepancies between tracer and rainfall simulation results. The different rainfall simulations support the preference of non-inversion tillage and strip-till over conventional tillage in order to reduce soil loss in the Belgian loess belt. The increased soil loss due to wheel track compaction implies the need to till favorable soil moisture conditions to avoid soil compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is an important greenhouse gas and a catalyst of stratospheric ozone decay. Agricultural soils are the source of 75% of anthropogenic N 2 O emissions globally. Recently, significant attention has been directed at examining effects of conservation tillage on carbon sequestration in agricultural systems. However, limited knowledge is available regarding how these practices impact N 2 O emissions, especially for organic vegetable production systems. In this context, a three-year study was conducted in a well-drained sandy loam field transitioning to organic vegetable production in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain of USA to investigate impacts of conservation tillage [strip till (ST) and no-till (NT)] and conventional tillage (CT) [with black plastic mulch (CT-BP) and bare-ground (CT-BG)] on N 2 O emissions. Each year, a winter cover crop mixture (forage radish: Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, crimson clover: Trifolium incarnatum L., and rye: Secale cereale L.) was grown and flail-mowed in the spring. Nearly 80% of annual N 2 O-nitrogen (N) emissions occurred during the vegetable growing season for all treatments. Annual N 2 O-N emissions were greater in CT-BP than in ST and NT, and greater in CT-BG than in NT, but not different between CT-BG and CT-BP, ST and NT, or CT-BG and ST. Conventional tillage promoted N mineralization and plastic mulch increased soil temperature, which contributed to greater N 2 O-N fluxes. Though water filled porosity in NT was higher and correlated well with N 2 O-N fluxes, annual N 2 O-N emissions were lowest in NT suggesting a lack of substrates for nitrification and denitrification processes. Crop yield was lowest in NT in Year 1 and CT-BP in Year 3 but yield-scaled N 2 O-N emissions were consistently greatest in CT-BP and lowest in NT each year. Our results suggest that for coarse-textured soils in the coastal plain with winter cover crops, conservation tillage practices may reduce N 2 O emissions in organic vegetable production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation tillage has the potential to decrease the environmental footprint of pumpkin production, but possible trade-offs with yield are not well understood. This study experimentally tested the effects of three cultivation techniques (conventional-till, strip-till, and no-till) on pumpkin production, weed pressure, soil moisture, and soil erosion. Randomized complete block field experiments were conducted on Cucurbita pepo L. 'Gladiator' pumpkins in 2014 and 2015. Overall yields were higher in 2015, averaging 45.2 t·ha-1, compared with 37.4 t·ha-1 in 2014. In 2014, pumpkin yields were similar across tillage treatments. In 2015, the average fruit weight of no-till pumpkins was significantly greater than strip-till and conventional-till pumpkins, which corresponded to a marginally significant 13% and 22% yield increase, respectively (P = 0.11). Weed control was variable between years, especially in the strip-till treatment. Soil moisture was consistently highest in the no-till treatment in both years of study. Conventional-till pumpkin plots lost ≈9 times more soil than the two conservation tilled treatments during simulated storm events. The 2015 yield advantage of no-till pumpkins seems related to both high soil moisture retention and weed control. Research results suggest that no-till and strip-till pumpkin production systems yield at least as well as conventional-till systems with the advantage of reducing soil erosion during extreme rains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strip-till has been used at a large scale in east central Kansas as an alternative to earlier planting dates under a no-till system. To determine the effects of planting corn (Zea mays) under previously established strip-tilled fertilized rows, experiments were conducted on an Osage silty clay loam soil in 2006 and 2008 and on a Woodson silt loam soil in 2009, 2010, and 2011 using three different planting distances from the strip-tilled fertilized rows (0, 10, 20, and 38 cm) with a strip-till operation performed between 1 to 73 days before planting. The depth of the strip-till fertilizer application was 13 to 15 cm below the soil surface. Corn that was planted 10 cm from the fertilized row showed greater early season growth, higher plant population, and grain yield. Planting 20 and 38 cm from the center of the fertilized rows showed none of the benefits that are typically associated with strip-tillage system. Enough time should be allowed between the strip-till operation and planting to reach satisfactory soil conditions (e.g., moist and firm seedbed). Our results suggest that the best location for planting strip-tilled fertilized corn vary depending on soil and climatic conditions as well as the time between fertilizer application with the strip-till operation and planting. With fewer number of days, planting directly on the center of fertilized strip-till resulted in decreased plant population and lower grain yield. However the greatest yield benefit across different planting conditions was attained when planting within 10 cm of the strip.

Strip-till has been used at a large scale in east central Kansas as an alternative to earlier planting dates under a no-till system. To determine the effects of planting corn (Zea mays) under previously established strip-tilled fertilized rows, experiments were conducted on an Osage silty clay loam soil in 2006 and 2008 and on a Woodson silt loam soil in 2009, 2010, and 2011 using three different planting distances from the strip-tilled fertilized rows (0, 10, 20, and 38 cm) with a strip-till operation performed between 1 and 73 days before planting. The depth of the strip-till fertilizer application was 13-15cm below the soil surface. Corn that was planted 10cm from the fertilized row showed greater early season growth, higher plant population, and grain yield. Planting 20 and 38cm from the center of the fertilized rows showed none of the benefits that are typically associated with strip-tillage system. Enough time should be allowed between the strip-till operation and planting to reach satisfactory soil conditions (e.g., moist and firm seedbed). Our results suggest that the best location for planting strip-tilled fertilized corn vary depending on soil and climatic conditions as well as the time between fertilizer application with the strip-till operation and planting. With fewer number of days, planting directly on the center of fertilized strip-till resulted in decreased plant population and lower grain yield. However, the greatest yield benefit across different planting conditions was attained when planting within 10cm of the strip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of living mulches for managing crop pests has received much attention recently but their effects on primary crop productivity is relatively uninvestigated. This study investigated the influence of a sunn hemp (Crotalaria junceaL.) living mulch on growth, development and yield of zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepoL.). Field experiments were conducted at two locations during three growing seasons. Zucchini squash growth, dry biomass and yield were recorded and compared when inter-planted into a companion sunn hemp living mulch (SH) and grown in monoculture [bare-ground (BG)]. During the first and second study years, when sunn hemp was cut to a height of 45 cm and used concurrently as a living and surface mulch, zucchini plant dry biomass and yield were substantially reduced compared with BG habitats. However, in the third year, when sunn hemp was cut to a shorter height of 20 cm, zucchini plant growth and yield were similar between treatments at one study site and significantly greater in SH than in BG habitat at the other site. Potential causes of yield differences and implications of using sunn hemp as a living companion plant are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In applying no-tillage and strip-tillage technologies, one of the main problems is that the post-harvest plant residues remain on the soil surface and hamper the cultivation, tillage and drilling operations. The experimental researches of this work were established biological preparation and it operation period effect the mechanical breaking and cutting different knives characteristics of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cv. ‘Ada’ winter rapeseed ( Brassica napus L. ssp. Oleifera biennis Metzq.) cv. ‘Sunday’ and spring rapeseed ( B . napus L. ssp. Oleifera annua Metzq.) cv. ‘Fenja’ residues in interaction with the soil. The research was carried out in 2012–2014 in Lithuania. Plant residues were left on the untilled soil surface upon by natural climatic conditions. One part of plant residues were treated with biological preparation and other part untreated. Breaking and cutting researches were carried out weekly for three weeks. The research found that biological preparation consist of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria weakened the forces required for the cutting and breaking of all researched plant residues. Prolonging the biological preparation effect period, need substantially less force required for the cutting and breaking of plant residues. After the first week, the force required to break winter wheat residues without node decreased by 38%, after two weeks it decreased by 50%, and after three weeks it decreased by 73%, winter rapeseed—78%, 85%, 90%, spring rapeseed 57%, 77% and 82%, respectively. The forces required for cutting plant residues with the vertical knife need about 1.7–2.5 greater compared with the cutting when the angled knife was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]