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Sustainable agricultural practices are needed to find a solution to the problem of soil erosion and decreased soil quality. A study was conducted during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons to evaluate the synergistic effect of the tillage system (TS) and manure rates (MR) on selected soil properties at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm (Syferkuil) and University of Venda Experimental Farm (UNIVEN). The experiment had a split plot design with three replications. The main plots used conventional (CON) and in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH) tillage systems, while subplots used poultry and cattle manure at rates of 0, 20, and 35 t ha−1. Bulk density (BD), aggregate stability (AS), pH, total N, organic carbon (OC), available P, and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, and K) were determined. IRWH significantly increased AS in the 0–20 cm soil layer at Syferkuil. TS × MR interaction significantly influenced AS and total N in the 20–40 cm soil layer during the 2022/2023 season at Syferkuil. IRWH significantly increased Mg content in the 2021/2022 season and total N, OC, and Mg content in the 2022/2023 season at Syferkuil over CON. At UNIVEN, CON significantly increased total N, whereas IRWH increased available P in the 2022/2023 season. MR significantly increased AS, exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K at both sites. At Syferkuil, MR significantly increased total N, OC, and available P during both seasons, whereas at UNIVEN the significant increase was observed on OC and available P during both seasons and total N in the 2021/2022 season. It was found that IRWH and poultry manure (35 t ha−1) improved most soil properties at both sites; however, this study recommends long-term experiments to investigate the combined effect of IRWH and manure rate on soil properties to validate the findings observed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although herbicides are essential for global agriculture and controlling weeds, they impact soil microbial communities and CO2 emissions. However, the effects of herbicides, tillage systems, and nitrogen fertilisation on CO2 emissions under different environmental conditions are poorly understood. This review explores how various agricultural practices and inputs affect CO2 emissions and addresses the impact of pest-management strategies, tillage systems, and nitrogen fertiliser usage on CO2 emissions using multiple databases. Key findings indicate that both increased and decreased tendencies in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were observed, depending on the herbicide type, dose, soil properties, and application methods. Several studies reported a positive correlation between CO2 emissions and increased agricultural production. Combining herbicides with other methods effectively controls emissions with minimal chemical inputs. Conservation practices like no-tillage were more effective than conventional tillage in mitigating carbon emissions. Integrated pest management, conservation tillage, and nitrogen fertiliser rate optimisation were shown to reduce herbicide use and soil greenhouse gas emissions. Fertilisers are similarly important; depending on the dosage, they may support yield or harm the soil. Fertiliser benefits are contingent on appropriate management practices for specific soil and field conditions. This review highlights the significance of adaptable management strategies that consider local environmental conditions and can guide future studies and inform policies to promote sustainable agriculture practices worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under South Dobrudzha climatic conditions (Haplic Chernozems soil) wheat yield (grain, protein and structional components) is strongly influenced by application of different main soil tillage systems (MSTS) in 4-field crop rotation. For the period 2018-2021 in Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute - General Toshevo seven MSTS were tested: 1. CP - Conventional plowing (24-26 cm); 2. D - disking (10-12 cm) 3. C - cutting (24-26 cm); 4. NT - NT (direct sowing); 5. CP-NT (CP for spring crops - NT for wheat); 6. C-D (C for spring crops-D for wheat) and 7. CP-D (CP for spring crops-D for wheat). The objectives were: to investigate the seasonal variability in wheat grain and protein yield and the structural yield components as influenced by the main tillage systems; to investigate the variability in the physical properties of wheat grain and to evaluate the correlations between the grain yield and all other investigated indices. The meteorological conditions have a decisive influence on the values of the studied indices. The highest average yield for the 2018-2021 was obtained in the CP-D system (6953.7 kg/ha) and excess over CP-CP by 6.4%. The same is true for crude protein yield, where the increase is with 70.0 kg/ha. Prolonged application of deep irreversible tillage in the crop rotation has a strong negative impact on the amount of the grain and crude protein yield. Significant dynamics has been established in the values of the yield structural elements. The largest grain was obtained in the D-D (41.56 g), and the heaviest - in the CP-CP (77.94 kg). Tillage combination systems are characterized by lower values of the physical characteristics of the grain compared to their individual application. Numerous correlations in both directions between yields (grain and crude protein) and its structural elements have been found. The positive reaction of wheat under the conditions of NT and minimal tillage in the crop rotation show that they can definitely replace conventional plowing in the growing climate changes, causing stress in critical phases of wheat development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient application rate and tillage practices are considered important factors in triggering the productivity of oilseed crops, especially canola (Brassica napus L.). The soil in the area is deficient in available zinc (Zn) and sulfur (S), which necessitates the supplementary application of these nutrients for sustainable crop development. The following study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of tillage and micronutrient on the growth, quality, and yield of canola and weed density. The present study was executed consisting of two tillage systems along with four treatments of micronutrients application including control, soil application of recommended doses of zinc (10 kg ha−1), soil application of a recommended dose of sulfur (45 kg ha−1), and combined application of a recommended dose of Zn + S (10 kg + 45 kg ha−1) during the crop growing seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The results showed that the combined use of Zn and S under different tillage systems significantly affected crop growth, yield, and quality parameters. An increase of 0.99% in plant height, 6.33% in number of branches, 33% in silique length, 6.25% number of siliques per plant, 10% in number of seeds per silique, 4.64% in thousand seed weight, 0.74% in grain yield, and 0.42% in biological yield was recoded under conventional tillage practices as compared to zero tillage. In crux, the combined application of Zn and S at 10 and 45 kg ha−1 respectively, to canola crops under conventional tillage practices could be a sustainable option to improve canola crop growth, yield, and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is a complex and highly heterogeneous process with a wide range of environmental and economic impacts. Its estimation is particularly challenging and modelling is typically used for erosion estimation over large areas. The aim of this study was to compare the two leading empirical and physical erosion estimation models, i.e. the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP). The models were calibrated and validated using data collected from field experiments conducted in agricultural lands of Mexico. The simulated rainfall experiments involved measuring erosion from field plots subjected to four tillage systems (No crop, Conventional tillage, Conventional tillage + residues, and Handspike) under two antecedent soil moisture conditions (dry and wet). Different calibration approaches based on the factors K and C for RUSLE, and interrill erodibility and hydraulic conductivity in WEPP were tested. The best-performing methods in RUSLE involved measuring the K factor and adopting the recommended C factor by the National Forestry Commission of Mexico. In WEPP, the best results were obtained when interrill erodibility was estimated from experimental measurements. Overall, RUSLE outperformed WEPP in most of the treatments except for CT under WAMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The period of extreme weather anomalies in recent years has challenged farmers, and this has encouraged greater adaptability in farming practices. In the last decade, conventional tillage systems have been complemented by more biologically based cropping systems. The research evaluated the impact of drought on soil physical parameters in maize production by testing different conventional and non-conventional tillage systems to ensure optimal soil physical parameters. In the analysis of the prevailing weather conditions, rainfall values were divided into two parts, the pre-growing season and the growing season. We studied different climatic seasons. In 2021, the soil moisture content in the upper shallow 15 cm soil layer during the sowing period in April in the case of conventional tillage was significantly lower than in reduced tillage, conservation tillage and strip tillage. The most significant difference was measured between conventional and conservation tillage, with a difference of 11.25 v/v%. The 2022 crop year was extremely dry. In June, the highest moisture value in the soil was measured in the case of strip tillage with a value of 21.64 v/v%, which was more than 60% higher than in the case of conventional and conservation tillage. In conventional tillage, a very pronounced compacted layer was observed in the lower part of the ploughed layer. This zone reached a compaction of 6.9 MPa between 28 and 34 cm, which is agronomically harmful. No compacted soil layer was found in the experiment site under conservation tillage. In the severe drought year of 2022, only the strip-till system provided the proper water management conditions for the maize stand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage practices govern crop quality and quantity through soil nutrient availability and crop root systems. A deeper knowledge of the impact of conservation tillage on soil chemical characteristics (such as pH, soil organic carbon, macro and micronutrient storage and distribution) is required for both the promotion of agricultural sustainability and environmental preservation. This study assesses the changes in soil features and properties in the context of a long-field experiment with different tillage systems and straw management practices. Research findings revealed that compared with conventional tillage (CT) conservative tillage with partial straw retention (MT) and no-tillage with straw mulching (NT) substantially boosted the organic carbon (OC) (by 6–19%), total nitrogen (TN) (by 2–12%), and available potassium content (AK) (by 2–5%), in 0–30 cm soil depth. However, the stratification trend was observed for available macro and micronutrient content (Zn, Fe, Mn) in both conservative management practices. The concentration of Cu indicates a constant pattern through a 0–30 cm soil profile with a higher concentration under MT (1.41 mg kg−1) compared to NT (1.10 mg kg−1). In particular, the results failed to establish if conservation tillage can increase the total phosphorus (TP) and potassium content (TK), where only in surface 0–10 cm an increase was observed. This research also suggested that the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of total micronutrient content (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn) is minimal or unpredictable with no substantial differences between the tillage systems and straw return management practices. These findings suggest that conservation tillage in north-eastern Romania might be optimal to maintain soil quality status and sustain high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, when the human impact on the environment becomes prominent daily, specific steps are needed to mitigate or halt those changes. By far, agricultural land is most affected by the degradation process, leading to soil erosion and decreased soil quality. Sustainable measures are needed to find a solution to that problem. This study, located in an agricultural area in northwestern Croatia, gives an insight into how different tillage systems (conventional and conservation) with the addition of manure will affect soil physicochemical properties, hydrology response, and overall yield. To assess hydrological response, a rainfall simulator was used; meanwhile, soil samples were taken to determine bulk density, soil water content, water-stable aggregates, and soil organic matter. Soil water content did not show significant differences, whereas bulk density and penetration resistance yielded significantly higher values at 15–30 cm depth compared to 0–15 cm depth. Also, the conservation manure recorded lower bulk density and penetration resistance values than conventional tilled treatments. Water-stable aggregates and soil organic matter were severely affected by manure addition and yielded an increase after harvest. Hydrological response was delayed for the treatments with manure addition. Crop yield was also significantly higher for the conventional treatment with manure addition, whereas the control plots had lower yields. The results of this study show the positive aspects of conservation tillage, especially with manure addition, where soil quality is preserved or even increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although herbicides are essential for global agriculture and controlling weeds, they impact soil microbial communities and CO2 emissions. However, the effects of herbicides, tillage systems, and nitrogen fertilisation on CO2 emissions under different environmental conditions are poorly understood. This review explores how various agricultural practices and inputs affect CO2 emissions and addresses the impact of pest-management strategies, tillage systems, and nitrogen fertiliser usage on CO2 emissions using multiple databases. Key findings indicate that both increased and decreased tendencies in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were observed, depending on the herbicide type, dose, soil properties, and application methods. Several studies reported a positive correlation between CO2 emissions and increased agricultural production. Combining herbicides with other methods effectively controls emissions with minimal chemical inputs. Conservation practices like no-tillage were more effective than conventional tillage in mitigating carbon emissions. Integrated pest management, conservation tillage, and nitrogen fertiliser rate optimisation were shown to reduce herbicide use and soil greenhouse gas emissions. Fertilisers are similarly important; depending on the dosage, they may support yield or harm the soil. Fertiliser benefits are contingent on appropriate management practices for specific soil and field conditions. This review highlights the significance of adaptable management strategies that consider local environmental conditions and can guide future studies and inform policies to promote sustainable agriculture practices worldwide.

The interactions of the different factors in differently tilled faba bean agroecosystems are still insufficiently studied and evaluated. For these reasons, we studied the results of a long-term field experiment, which was carried out in the Research Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy (Lithuania). The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the effect of the deep ploughing (DP), shallow ploughing (SP), deep cultivation, chiseling (DC), shallow cultivation-disking (SC), and no-tillage (NT) systems for the faba bean agroecosystem on the complex interactions of the indices, the relations among the indices, and the strength of the impact; the study employs the integrated evaluation method, which uses the complex evaluation index (CEI). CEI values showed that the NT system had a greater effect on the increase of soil aggregate stability (61%), the decrease of CO2 emissions (12%), and the increase of seed yield (6%) than the DP system. However, the NT system had 36% and 20% higher effect on weed density and biomass increase than DP. CEI values of the DP system were often minimal, i.e., close to 1, which showed the DP system's ineffectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of innovations, such as alternative crop establishment systems, can have significant impacts on farming systems and sustainability. The recent increased adoption of non-inversion establishment systems in Ireland allowed for an evaluation of technology adoption practices and information source use and access. Of the 154 arable growers surveyed, 50% practiced plough-based establishment and 50% used non-inversion establishment (min-till, strip-till, and direct drill systems). Differences in socio-demographics, farm characteristics, innovation adoption preferences, information sources, and information access methods used by growers who operated different systems were recorded. Direct drill growers had higher formal education levels and more off-farm employment than other growers and were prepared to take more risk than min-till growers, who were prepared to take more risk than plough-based growers in technology adoption scenarios. For both major change and agronomic decisions, non-inversion growers (especially direct drill) had substantially more non-Irish information sources in their top three information sources, suggesting the need for more national research on these systems in Ireland. Access to information through in-person interactions and print media was preferred by most. This study highlights the risk, where appropriate research is not available, of early adopters overly relying on non-validated information, potentially leading to the adoption of less sustainable practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the specific zonal pedo-climatic conditions, as well as the changes in local microclimates related to global warming, the modifications in cultivation technologies are important factors that have a significant impact on modern agriculture. The paper presents the results of research on the behaviour of three sunflower hybrids when cultivated in two basic tillage systems, in the pedoclimatic conditions of the Northern Bărăgan area. The implementation of new agricultural practices requires a longer period of research on the effects of basic soil operations on sunflower production and quality indicators. In the current pedoclimatic conditions of Unirea area, located in the Northern Bărăgan Plain where the experiments were conducted, the practice of basic soil operations, specifically ploughing to a depth of 30 cm, ensures higher yields with slightly improved quality indices. Additionally, the hybrids used in this study exhibited different responses to the two cultivation technologies employed. The research found that sunflowers react favourably to both classical and minimum tillage technologies. These technological changes aim to reduce the damage to the soil's structure and quality, manage resources efficiently, and reduce the environmental impact. The research results have theoretical and practical importance, revealing the significance of applied cultivation technologies in protecting the environment and soil, as well as reducing the costs associated with seed drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage systems and tillage speed on, fuel consumption, soil pulverization, and barley grain production, as well as the effects of five tillage systems on energy input-output. The investigation was comprised of three conventional tillage systems involving the use of disk plow + disk harrow + roller (T1), disk plow + two passes of a disk harrow (T2), and moldboard plow + cultivator (T3), and two reduced tillage systems, involving cultivator + roller (T4) and cultivator + disk harrow (T5). Three plowing speeds of 2.70, 5.68, and 6.14 km h-1 were used to prepare the soil for barley planting. The results showed that conventional tillage systems T1, T2, and T3 had the highest fuel consumption values, grain yield, and the lowest value of soil pulverization compared to the reduced tillage systems (T4 and T5). Increasing the operating speed from 2.70 to 6.14 km h-1 led to a decrease in fuel consumption and soil pulverization index by 21.29% and 19.33% respectively and it had no significant effect on barley grain yield. The interaction between the tillage system and operating speed had a significant effect (p<0.05) on fuel consumption and soil pulverization index, while it had no significant effect on barley grain yield. Conventional tillage (T2) led to an increase in the average of the total energy consumed for barley production compared to T1, T3, T4, and T5 by 9.02%, 22.58%, 34.39%, and 41% respectively. While reduced tillage (T5) achieved the lowest total energy-consuming input value of 7586 MJ ha-1. Reduced tillage system (T4) achieved the highest energy efficiency, energy productivity, and the lowest specific energy values of 3.53, 0.24 kg MJ-1, and 4.16 MJ kg-1 respectively. However, the results showed there were no significant effects (p<0.05) between T3 and T5 in terms of specific energy and energy productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the impact that three cultivation systems—conventional till (CT), reduced till (RT), and strip-till one-pass (ST-OP)—had on the biological parameters of the soil and their relationships with organic matter properties in the row zone (R) and inter-row zone (IR). For this purpose, a long-term static field experiment was carried out, from which soil samples were taken from a depth of 0–20 cm and the following were determined: TOC; TN content and fractional composition of organic matter; activity of dehydrogenases (DEHs), catalase (CAT), alkaline (AlP), and acid phosphatase (AcP); and the abundances of heterotophic bacteria (B), filamentous fungi (F), actinobacteria (Ac), and cellulolytic microorganisms (Ce). Soil samples for biological parameter tests were collected in summer (July) and autumn (October). RT and ST-OP increase the content of TOC, TN, carbon, and nitrogen in the humic and fulvic acid fractions. For the studied groups of microorganisms, the conditions for development were least favourable under CT cultivation. The results show that in July, the activities of DEH and CAT were the highest in ST-OP, whereas in October, they were the highest under CT. AlP and AcP activity were markedly the highest under ST-OP in both months. Enzyme activity was significantly the highest in the IR zone. The results indicate that, of the calculated multiparametric indicators, (AlP/AcP, GMea, BIF, BA12, and TEI), BA12 is a sensitive biological indicator of soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The period of extreme weather anomalies in recent years has challenged farmers, and this has encouraged greater adaptability in farming practices. In the last decade, conventional tillage systems have been complemented by more biologically based cropping systems. The research evaluated the impact of drought on soil physical parameters in maize production by testing different conventional and non-conventional tillage systems to ensure optimal soil physical parameters. In the analysis of the prevailing weather conditions, rainfall values were divided into two parts, the pre-growing season and the growing season. We studied different climatic seasons. In 2021, the soil moisture content in the upper shallow 15 cm soil layer during the sowing period in April in the case of conventional tillage was significantly lower than in reduced tillage, conservation tillage and strip tillage. The most significant difference was measured between conventional and conservation tillage, with a difference of 11.25 v/v%. The 2022 crop year was extremely dry. In June, the highest moisture value in the soil was measured in the case of strip tillage with a value of 21.64 v/v%, which was more than 60% higher than in the case of conventional and conservation tillage. In conventional tillage, a very pronounced compacted layer was observed in the lower part of the ploughed layer. This zone reached a compaction of 6.9 MPa between 28 and 34 cm, which is agronomically harmful. No compacted soil layer was found in the experiment site under conservation tillage. In the severe drought year of 2022, only the strip-till system provided the proper water management conditions for the maize stand.

Land-use change from forest to arable lands may have a major significance on soil processes, properties, and functioning. This research investigated the influence of long-term land-use change from untouched forests to arable lands under northern and southern slope aspects on soil physical and chemical properties. Six regions of the Zagros area in the west of Iran, where the increasing trend of forest to agricultural land conversion has occurred during the last decades, were selected for this study. Composite soil samples were collected from the 0-20 cm depth in both the northern and southern slopes of native forests and their related cultivated areas. The highest dispersible clay and soil bulk density and the lowest aggregate stability were observed in cultivated areas. Soil organic carbon and total N declined in response to the land-use change from forest to cultivated areas in all study areas. The highest amounts of soil organic carbon, total N, C/N ratio, and available P were observed in northern slopes compared with southern slopes in some studied regions. In general, the conversion of natural forests to agricultural cropping systems resulted in soil quality declining. However, the deterioration intensity in the northern and southern slope aspects was similar approximately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage practices govern crop quality and quantity through soil nutrient availability and crop root systems. A deeper knowledge of the impact of conservation tillage on soil chemical characteristics (such as pH, soil organic carbon, macro and micronutrient storage and distribution) is required for both the promotion of agricultural sustainability and environmental preservation. This study assesses the changes in soil features and properties in the context of a long-field experiment with different tillage systems and straw management practices. Research findings revealed that compared with conventional tillage (CT) conservative tillage with partial straw retention (MT) and no-tillage with straw mulching (NT) substantially boosted the organic carbon (OC) (by 6–19%), total nitrogen (TN) (by 2–12%), and available potassium content (AK) (by 2–5%), in 0–30 cm soil depth. However, the stratification trend was observed for available macro and micronutrient content (Zn, Fe, Mn) in both conservative management practices. The concentration of Cu indicates a constant pattern through a 0–30 cm soil profile with a higher concentration under MT (1.41 mg kg−1) compared to NT (1.10 mg kg−1). In particular, the results failed to establish if conservation tillage can increase the total phosphorus (TP) and potassium content (TK), where only in surface 0–10 cm an increase was observed. This research also suggested that the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of total micronutrient content (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn) is minimal or unpredictable with no substantial differences between the tillage systems and straw return management practices. These findings suggest that conservation tillage in north-eastern Romania might be optimal to maintain soil quality status and sustain high yields.

Wheat is the leading food grain in the global food balance. Ukraine is among the top 10 world grain producers and therefore the issue of increasing the production of high-quality, environmentally friendly grain is extremely relevant. The aim of the work was to study the influence of the system of agrotechnical measures for the greening of agriculture on the formation of technological indicators of the quality of winter wheat grain, which will make it possible to obtain high-quality environmentally friendly wheat grain in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine, as well as reduce the negative pressure on the environment of modern factors of intensification of agriculture. The assessment of the quality of winter wheat grain was carried out according to such technological indicators as the protein content, the quantity and quality of gluten, the falling number, the weight of 1000 grains and bulk density. The experiments were carried out in a grain-rowed short-rotation 5-field crop rotation with alternating crops: peas – winter wheat – corn – sunflower – winter barley. The soil of the experimental plot is southern chernozem, low-humus, medium-thick, difficult loamy in the forest. The conducted studies have shown that the quality of grain changes both from the system of the main soil cultivation in the crop rotation, and from the use of spreaders of by-products of the predecessor, and the influence of these factors manifested itself depending on the weather conditions over the years of research in different ways. The best result with the element of biologization of agriculture was obtained with the use of the biodestructor Cellulad 2 l/ha, which significantly improves the technological indicators of the quality of winter wheat grain. So, on average, over the years of research, the best grain was obtained in the variant with a system of no-till multi-depth tillage against the background of the introduction of the biodegradable Cellulad 2 l/ha with the protein content of 12.6%, the crude gluten content of 23.4%, the gluten quality indicator according to its deformation index is 82.2 conventional units of the VDC device and the falling number of 334.3 s. With the introduction of additional nitrogen N10 per 1 ton of by-products, as an energy material for the efficient decomposition of organic matter by soil microorganisms, an increase in the quality of winter wheat grain is also observed, but the results are inferior to the best option. Carrying out a moisture-saving system of a non-linear mid-depth basic tillage increases the action of a biodestructor in the conditions of the arid Southern Steppe of Ukraine.

This study is aimed to compare the hydrophysical properties of Cambisols and wheat yield on plots under different soil management strategies. The soil (0–20 cm) consists of 21% sand, 37% silt, and 42% clay. This experiment was conducted with three tillage system types (TST) in main plots (reduced tillage using combined tillage: T1, reduced tillage comprised of chisel plough: T2 and conventional tillage: T3), three harvest residue covers (HRC) in sub-plots (no residue: C1, 40% wheat residue: C2, and 80% wheat residue: C3), and three implement forward speeds (IFS) in sub-subplots (4 km/h: S1, 7 km/h: S2, and 10 km/h: S3). Infiltration tests were performed by single-disc tensions infiltrometer with a diameter of 20 cm at successive applied matric suction (h) of 20, 14, 4, 1, and 0 cm. Mean comparison results showed that soil organic matter decreased in T3 treatment, due to soil aggregate degradation. T3, C3, and S3 treatments increased the hydraulic conductivity at matric suction (h) of 1 cm by increasing the number of macropores per unit area and their contribution to the saturated water flux. In contrast, T1 treatment increased hydraulic conductivity at h of 4, 14, and 20 cm by increasing the number of meso- and micropores. The contribution of micropores to the saturated water flux, hydraulic conductivity at h = 20 cm were higher in residual-cover-free plots. Hydraulic conductivity at h of 1, 4, and 14 cm increased with increasing HRC due to an increase in the number of macro- and mesopores and their contribution to the saturated water flux. Macroscopic capillary length () under T1, T2 and S1 was more than those under T3 and high IFS. T3 treatment also reduced likely due to its destruction effects on pore continuity. The application of T2, C2, and S2 treatments led to maximum wheat yield, likely by minimizing mechanical manipulation, reducing evaporation and improving soil moisture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This publication describes a study that measured how much uneven corn emergence. This publication provides some management recommendations for what to do planting process. My research takes this approach as a basis when examining the different tillage systems and their impact on the environment. In this context, conventional and a variety of no-tillage systems are examined in this paper. As a next step, it is examined how the environmental conditions created by the different tillage systems influence the emergence of maize hybrids. The analyses are carried out in a multifactorial, long-term tillage field experiment. The same batch of the same hybrid seed was sown in several crop years, and the effects of environmental conditions on the emergence process were examined. Environmental effects and emergence-related uptake were measured in the examined plots. The first emergence time measurements of the sown crop in the plots of each treatment were compared and relationships between these factors were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive agricultural practices affect soil compaction, and their indirect and direct effects on crop growth and development are an increasingly important focus of scientific research. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of different tillage systems on soil compaction and to observe the influence of tractor tire pressure on penetrometer resistance during sowing. The three-year study was conducted on the heavy pseudogley soil of Brod-Posavina County in the Republic of Croatia. During the research, crops were observed in the following cropping sequence: soybean (Glycine max L.) in the first year, maize (Zea mays L.) in the second year and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the third year. The tillage systems as the main study factor were conventional tillage (CT) plowing to a depth of 35 cm, disc tillage (DH) to a depth of 15 cm, loosening (CH) to a depth of 30 cm, and undermining (SS) to a depth of 50 cm. The following pressures were used as a subfactor of this study, namely the pressure of the front and rear tires of the tractor during sowing: p1 (front 1.0 bar/rear 0.8 bar), p2 (front 2.0 bar/rear 1.6 bar), and p3 (front 3.0 bar/rear 2.4 bar). The tillage systems applied resulted in different soil compaction, thus the deepest tillage SS had the lowest resistance and the DH tillage had the highest resistance in all three experimental years. Penetrometer measurements showed the influence of tire pressure p1 on reducing compaction as early as the first year in 2017, while in the last year of research in 2019, tractor tire pressure p3 during sowing contributed to a significant increase in soil compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diseases induced by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (G. g. tritici) are the most important wheat root diseases in all cropping areas around the world and significantly reduces yield and quality of wheat grain. A multi-year field experiment was used to evaluate infestation of winter wheat roots by G. g. tritici. The experimental factors included: I. cropping system (CS): 1) crop rotation (CR): pea -- winter wheat -- spring barley; 2) monoculture of winter wheat (MON); and II. tillage system (TS): 1) CT -- conventional tillage, 2) RT -- reduced tillage, and 3) NT -- no-tillage. The following cultivation treatment were applied: a shallow ploughing after previous harvest and pre-sowing ploughing in the CT system; double cultivation instead of both aforementioned ploughing treatments in the RT system; and glyphosate in NT system. A cultivation set, consisting of a cultivator, a string roller, and a harrow, was used before wheat sowing. The value of the index of winter wheat roots infestation by G. g. tritici was significantly higher in the monoculture than in crop rotation. The value was also higher in NT than in CT system. In wheat monoculture with NT system, the percentage of highly and severely infested plants was higher than in crop rotation with CT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the response of soil microbial functions to the presence and placement of faba beans in crop rotations (rotation without legumes versus rotations with faba beans as the crop previous to wheat, with the faba beans sown three years before the wheat crops) combined with two tillage systems (conventional and reduced tillage). The study included 36 wheat-producing plots, and two agricultural practice types were defined: high-frequency–low-intensity (HF–LI) and low-frequency–high-intensity (LF–HI). The results demonstrated a significant increase in the total carbon and nitrogen (N) content under reduced tillage. Furthermore, the general path analysis suggested that arylamidase and β-glucosidase activities significantly affect N fluxes. The enzyme activities were modified by changing the soil's physicochemical properties. These findings highlighted the significance of introducing legumes as the crop preceding wheat, especially when applying conventional tillage. Moreover, it was revealed that farmers' management of these conservative practices is a leading factor in regulating soil functions. Pesticides and inorganic fertilization inputs were classified as HF–LI practices, while organic matter (OM) inputs and liming treatments were qualified as LF–HI practices. For instance, LF–HI practices (OM inputs and liming) directly and indirectly influenced the soil functions related to the N cycle, while HF–LI practices (pesticide, inorganic N fertilization, and previous crops) resulted in fewer soil function changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is the leading food grain in the global food balance. Ukraine is among the top 10 world grain producers and therefore the issue of increasing the production of high-quality, environmentally friendly grain is extremely relevant. The aim of the work was to study the influence of the system of agrotechnical measures for the greening of agriculture on the formation of technological indicators of the quality of winter wheat grain, which will make it possible to obtain high-quality environmentally friendly wheat grain in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine, as well as reduce the negative pressure on the environment of modern factors of intensification of agriculture. The assessment of the quality of winter wheat grain was carried out according to such technological indicators as the protein content, the quantity and quality of gluten, the falling number, the weight of 1000 grains and bulk density. The experiments were carried out in a grain-rowed short-rotation 5-field crop rotation with alternating crops: peas – winter wheat – corn – sunflower – winter barley. The soil of the experimental plot is southern chernozem, low-humus, medium-thick, difficult loamy in the forest. The conducted studies have shown that the quality of grain changes both from the system of the main soil cultivation in the crop rotation, and from the use of spreaders of by-products of the predecessor, and the influence of these factors manifested itself depending on the weather conditions over the years of research in different ways. The best result with the element of biologization of agriculture was obtained with the use of the biodestructor Cellulad 2 l/ha, which significantly improves the technological indicators of the quality of winter wheat grain. So, on average, over the years of research, the best grain was obtained in the variant with a system of no-till multi-depth tillage against the background of the introduction of the biodegradable Cellulad 2 l/ha with the protein content of 12.6%, the crude gluten content of 23.4%, the gluten quality indicator according to its deformation index is 82.2 conventional units of the VDC device and the falling number of 334.3 s. With the introduction of additional nitrogen N10 per 1 ton of by-products, as an energy material for the efficient decomposition of organic matter by soil microorganisms, an increase in the quality of winter wheat grain is also observed, but the results are inferior to the best option. Carrying out a moisture-saving system of a non-linear mid-depth basic tillage increases the action of a biodestructor in the conditions of the arid Southern Steppe of Ukraine. [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]

Nowadays, when the human impact on the environment becomes prominent daily, specific steps are needed to mitigate or halt those changes. By far, agricultural land is most affected by the degradation process, leading to soil erosion and decreased soil quality. Sustainable measures are needed to find a solution to that problem. This study, located in an agricultural area in northwestern Croatia, gives an insight into how different tillage systems (conventional and conservation) with the addition of manure will affect soil physicochemical properties, hydrology response, and overall yield. To assess hydrological response, a rainfall simulator was used; meanwhile, soil samples were taken to determine bulk density, soil water content, water-stable aggregates, and soil organic matter. Soil water content did not show significant differences, whereas bulk density and penetration resistance yielded significantly higher values at 15–30 cm depth compared to 0–15 cm depth. Also, the conservation manure recorded lower bulk density and penetration resistance values than conventional tilled treatments. Water-stable aggregates and soil organic matter were severely affected by manure addition and yielded an increase after harvest. Hydrological response was delayed for the treatments with manure addition. Crop yield was also significantly higher for the conventional treatment with manure addition, whereas the control plots had lower yields. The results of this study show the positive aspects of conservation tillage, especially with manure addition, where soil quality is preserved or even increased.

The interactions of the different factors in differently tilled faba bean agroecosystems are still insufficiently studied and evaluated. For these reasons, we studied the results of a long-term field experiment, which was carried out in the Research Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy (Lithuania). The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the effect of the deep ploughing (DP), shallow ploughing (SP), deep cultivation, chiseling (DC), shallow cultivation-disking (SC), and no-tillage (NT) systems for the faba bean agroecosystem on the complex interactions of the indices, the relations among the indices, and the strength of the impact; the study employs the integrated evaluation method, which uses the complex evaluation index (CEI). CEI values showed that the NT system had a greater effect on the increase of soil aggregate stability (61%), the decrease of CO2 emissions (12%), and the increase of seed yield (6%) than the DP system. However, the NT system had 36% and 20% higher effect on weed density and biomass increase than DP. CEI values of the DP system were often minimal, i.e., close to 1, which showed the DP system’s ineffectiveness.

ABSTRACT Paddy rice production based on traditional soil management emits large amounts of methane (CH4) into the atmosphere. This study assessed the potential of no-tillage (NT) and winter cover crops (WCC) to mitigate net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a subtropical paddy rice ecosystem. A long-term (20-yrs) experiment was evaluated regarding the effect of NT combined with winter fallow or three WCC (ryegrass, white oat, and birdsfoot trefoil) on seasonal CH4 -C and nitrous oxide (N2O-N) emissions and on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in comparison to conventional tillage (CT) under winter fallow in a Gleysol of Southern Brazil. The changes in SOC were used as a proxy for annual net carbon dioxide (CO2) exchanges in the soil-atmosphere, taking the CT treatment as a reference. The GHG balance (summation of CH4 , N2O and CO2 emissions multiplied by their global warming potential of 34, 298, and 1, respectively) and emissions intensity of GHG emissions were calculated. Across winter managements, NT decreased 25 % of GHG emissions in comparison to CT system. This effect was mainly related to the decrease of seasonal CH4 -C emissions (31-113 kg ha-1) and by promoting SOC accumulation (0.45-0.65 Mg ha-1yr-1) in comparison to CT system, since soil N2 O-N emission was not affected by management practices. Increased soil CH4 -C emissions offset the positive effect of WCC on SOC accumulation compared with winter fallow. Based on our findings, NT mitigates net GHG emissions in subtropical paddy rice ecosystems, but no additional effect is observed combining NT with WCC.

The abundance and dynamics of pests in maize crop are influenced by the tillage system. The research has been done at Research and Development Station for Agriculture Turda (RDSA Turda) in order to estimation the insect populations in conventional tillage (plowing) and minimum tillage system (with chisel variant). The research consisted of observations and determinations on the monitoring, abundance and dynamics of the most common species pests of maize crop: Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, Autographa gamma L. and Agrotis segetum Den. & Schiff. The pests monitoring, with economically importance for maize crop was evaluated using F-1 pheromone traps, with synthetic sex pheromones (atraGAM-9, atraSEG-21 and atraVIRG). By minimizing the tillage, there has been an increase in the pest population, especially in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte. An almost perfect synchronization of the first generation with the optimal threshold of specific temperatures for insect biology was observed in the three monitored species. This meens even if, these mechanisms were formed over the course of evolution exist a permanent adaptations of insects to climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the relationship between the crop plant and the technological measures is very important for establishing the best management to increase the yield, to preserve water in the soil and to reduce weed pressure. This article emphasizes the influence of tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) on soil moisture, weed control and maize yield over three years (2020-2022) on a chernozem soil type at NARDI Fundulea, Romania. Determinations of soil moisture contributed to the climatic characterization of the agricultural year and supplied yearly reference data. In 2022, very low soil moisture values were recorded, being differentiated by the tillage system, leading to a minimum value of only 15.0% (517.5 m3 ha-1) for the CT system with spring plowing, a maximum of 19.4% (640.2 m3 ha-1) in the NT system and intermediate values in the MT system with 15.8% (564.9 m3 ha-1) for chisel variant. The structure of the weeds present in the maize crop was 36% monocotyledonous and 64% dicotyledonous. The best weeds management does not involve their eradication, but keeping them under economic threshold using technological measures, such as soil tillage systems. Statistical analyzes showed significant effects of all soil tillage on maize yield and of their interactions with other technological measures. The three-year average results showed that the highest yields were recorded with MT (4.51 t ha-1), while the averages for CT and NT were lower (4.81 t ha-1 and, respectively, 3.38 t ha-1). The application of technological measures in accordance with the climate forecast led to an increase in the chances that maize crop will go well through the vegetation period and give high and stable yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the appropriate management system is essential for sustainable agricultural practices. Yet, soil-specific properties at the subsurface are seldom considered when choosing the appropriate tillage system. This study assessed the effect of tillage depth on physical–hydraulic properties in three contrasting soil classes in the establishment of perennial crops. Tillage practices were evaluated in soils with natural dense layers (Inceptisols and Ultisols), and soils with very small and stable granular structure (Oxisols). From least to most aggressive, tested tillage systems included surface furrowing + plant holes (MT); plowing followed by two diskings + furrowing (CT); plowing followed by two diskings + subsoiling (SB); and plowing followed by two diskings + rotary hoeing (DM). Physical indicators with the greatest explanatory power were relative field capacity (RFC, 97%), aeration capacity (AC, 95%), macroporosity (Pmac, 95%), the S index (Sgi, 89%), and bulk density (Bd, 81%). DM caused the greatest modification in soil structure, especially at the surface. It increased values of AC, Pmac, and Sgi, and reduced Bd values. Only deep tillage systems (DM and SB) improved soil structure in deeper layers. Highest Bd values were observed for MT (1.47 g cm−3), and lowest for DM (1.21 g cm−3). Soil classes responded differently to soil tillage systems. DM was most effective in soils with densified layers (Inceptisol and Ultisol). Effects were less expressive in the studied Oxisol. Comparing MT and DM, Pmac increased by more than 100% in the studied Ultisol, but by less than 20% in the Oxisol. No tillage system affected the Oxisol's soil structure in deeper layers, due to its small and stable granular structure. The choice of optimal tillage strategies should consider soil-specific properties, especially at greater depths, to guarantee more productive and sustainable crop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term tillage and nitrogen management are useful for determining how crop management strategies affect soil sustainability and crop productivity. The long-term impact of tillage practices [conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT1) and reduced tillage + herbicide application (RT2)] and nitrogen sources [100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through compost (N1), 50% RDN through compost and 50% through urea (N2) and 100% RDN through urea (N3)] in maize-wheat system was evaluated for soil properties, nutrient uptake and crop productivity. The results highlighted that RT2 significantly resulted in 10% higher soil organic carbon (SOC), 13% phosphorus and 5% bulk density than CT whereas RT1 had significantly higher available nitrogen (3%) and infiltration rate (43%) than CT. However, potassium declined significantly in reduced tillage treatments than CT. Compost application (N1) significantly increased SOC, nitrogen, potassium and infiltration but reduced bulk density than N2 and N3. Reduced tillage + herbicide application with integrated nutrient management (RT2 and N2) significantly resulted in higher grain yield (3896 and 3469 kg ha‒1) and water use efficiency (7.81 and 14.68 kg ha–1 mm–1) in maize and wheat, respectively. The treatment, RT2 significantly resulted in higher net returns in maize (₹ 34512) and wheat (₹ 38134) than CT and RT1. In maize, the highest net returns (₹ 31170) were recorded in N2, whereas in wheat N3 (₹ 34882) performed better than N1 and N2. The results imply that long-term reduced tillage and nitrogen through integrated nutrient management improve soil properties, nutrient uptake and crop productivity under rainfed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to assess seed yield of yellow lupine, seed chemical composition, weed infestation of lupine crop, and contents of organic C and total N in the soil cultivated in the conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-till (NT) systems. The experiment was established on sandy-clay soil classified as Rendzic Phaeozem. It was set up in a randomized blocks design in 3 replicates having size of 75 m × 6 m. The lupine seed yield was higher in the CT system than in the RT and NT systems, due to a higher plant number m−2, pod number m−2, and seed number m−2. The tillage systems had little effect on the contents of protein, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the seeds; however, ash content of the seeds increased and that of potassium decreased in the NT system compared to the CT and RT systems. The tillage systems also affected lupine infestation by weeds. A higher weed number m−2 and their air-dry weight were determined in the RT system compared to the CT and NT systems. The NT and RT systems system increased contents of organic C and total N in the soil compared to the CT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in two locations during the first agricultural season 2021-2020 in the village of Khuwaitla, Al Hamdaniya district (15 km southeast of Mosul) and the second location in the Nimrud sub-district, Tal Hamid (65) km east of Mosul and both areas are located within the belt of semi-guaranteed rain regions, in which rainfall rates range from 300-450 mm annually. The study included one experiment in each location: the experiment included two factors and the levels of factors were as follows: The first factor: three cultivars of barley: local black, zanbaqa and Samir: and the second factor: three tillage systems, namely: no-tillage cultivation and traditional tillage (one- share) and two- share tillage :The most important results of the study were as follows: Barley cultivars differed among themselves in most of the studied traits, where the local black cultivar achieved significantly excelled on the two cultivars Zanbaqa and Samir in most of the traits and in both locations. While Samir cultivar was excelled in the traits of the percentage of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight in both locations, in addition to straw yield in Hamdania location only and the zanbaqa excelled cultivar in the trait plant height. The two-rail method was excelled on the one- share method in the fresh and dry feed yield and straw yield. The bi-interaction between cultivars and tillage systems showed the local black cultivar with conservation cultivation excelled in most of the studied traits. While the cultivar Samir with the same cultivation system excelled in most of the vegetative growth traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive tillage will continuously reduce soil quality, characterized by decreased soil organic-C. Low soil organic-C indicates the disturbance of soil fertility. More conservative soil management experiments have been done for seven years to restore the soil quality for sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) productivity. This research aimed to study the effect of the tillage system, bagasse mulch, and their interactions on soil chemical properties and sugarcane agronomic response. The research was conducted on a Split Plot of five groups. The main plot was the tillage system consisting of intensive tillage and no-tillage, while the subplot was the bagasse mulch consisting of bagasse mulch and no-bagasse mulch. This study found that in sugarcane cultivation, no-tillage system was beneficial for soil P-available, sugarcane length, and sugarcane ripening; bagasse mulch was beneficial for soil organic-C and also soil P-available. The no-tillage system to increase P-available can be combined with bagasse mulch or no-bagasse mulch, but the no-tillage system combined with no-bagasse mulch increases the percentage of gap in sugarcane cultivation.

The aim of the study was to determine the impact that three cultivation systems—conventional till (CT), reduced till (RT), and strip-till one-pass (ST-OP)—had on the biological parameters of the soil and their relationships with organic matter properties in the row zone (R) and inter-row zone (IR). For this purpose, a long-term static field experiment was carried out, from which soil samples were taken from a depth of 0–20 cm and the following were determined: TOC; TN content and fractional composition of organic matter; activity of dehydrogenases (DEHs), catalase (CAT), alkaline (AlP), and acid phosphatase (AcP); and the abundances of heterotophic bacteria (B), filamentous fungi (F), actinobacteria (Ac), and cellulolytic microorganisms (Ce). Soil samples for biological parameter tests were collected in summer (July) and autumn (October). RT and ST-OP increase the content of TOC, TN, carbon, and nitrogen in the humic and fulvic acid fractions. For the studied groups of microorganisms, the conditions for development were least favourable under CT cultivation. The results show that in July, the activities of DEH and CAT were the highest in ST-OP, whereas in October, they were the highest under CT. AlP and AcP activity were markedly the highest under ST-OP in both months. Enzyme activity was significantly the highest in the IR zone. The results indicate that, of the calculated multiparametric indicators, (AlP/AcP, GMea, BIF, BA12, and TEI), BA12 is a sensitive biological indicator of soil quality.

Stationary field experiment pertaining to the winter wheat in Croatia was performed during the three seasons. This study’s intention was to examine and diagnose the effect of tillage systems (TS) on soil chemical properties (soil acidity, phosphorus [P], potassium [K], and organic matter content). The TSs were as follows: CT — ploughing up to 30 cm depth, DT — disking up to 8-12 cm depth, LT — loosening up to 35 cm depth, and NT — no-tillage. The experimental design was a randomised block design in four repetitions, in which the basic TS plot amounted to 540 m2. Soil sampling for 0-30 cm soil layer was performed prior to setting up the experiment and subsequent to the three seasons with a total of 320 soil samples. Chemical analysis was performed according to standard pedological procedures. Economic indicators were calculated using economic equations and standards, whereas statistical analysis was performed with SAS 9.3 and Microsoft Excel 2016. Generated results indicate that the expressed accumulation of phosphorus and potassium appeared with a distinct vertical stratification in the systems with shallower tillage or no-tillage. At the same time, these TSs ensured the soil organic matter and soil fertility preservation. A conservable agricultural production of reduced soil tillage systems has its efficiency and vigor while providing soil degradation.

The level and quality of crop production is determined to a great extent by the soil fertility. The level of supply with nutrients depends on many factors, but the most important element is the tillage system. In order to study the impact of soil tillage on nutrients content, research was carried out on the Ezareni farm, where conventional (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems were observed. The soil of the investigated plots is cambic chernozem with a specific clay-loamy texture. The soil cores for analysis of macronutrients (N, P, K), soil reaction (pH) and humus content (H%) were taken from the 0 – 40 cm soil layer, from the corn crop. The results revealed a higher content of the main mineral nutrients at the soil surface and a significant decrease in deeper layers in no-tillage compared to a slight decrease with depth in the conventional system. Soil reaction (pH) values were between slightly acid to neutral, with a minimum of 6.2 in NT and a maximum value of 7.2 in CT. Humus content analysis showed a variation from 3.46 % to 0.73 % with the highest percentage in the topsoil in NT and in deeper layers in CT. In the no-tillage system, the macronutrients supply status is higher at the soil surface due to undisturbed microbiological activity of plant residues decomposing. In CT, ploughing determines a uniform distribution of nutrients content throughout the depth, but incorporation of plant residues causes humus to disperse into deeper soil layers. For the maintenance and permanent improvement of soil fertility, researchers are looking for the most suitable tillage system correlated with the physical properties. Therefore, the present paper aimed to highlight the impact of no-tillage system and conventional system on soil chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this three-year field experiment was to determine how simplified (reduced) pre-planting tillage and different weed control methods impact the yield and selected quality parameters of spelt grain (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta L.). Conventional tillage and three variants of reduced tillage (RT) were tested. The second experimental variable (weed control) had three variants: mechanical weed control (M), combined mechanical + chemical treatment at full herbicide rate (MC 100%), and combined mechanical + chemical treatment at 25%-reduced herbicide rate (MC 75%). The mechanical method consisted of harrowing the wheat crop in the fall and spring. The results showed that the wheat yields obtained under reduced pre-planting tillage were comparable to those under conventional tillage. However, the grain quality parameters proved to be worse under the reduced tillage regimes. Herbicide applications, both at full and reduced rates, significantly improved grain quality parameters and yields compared with mechanical-only weed control. In particular, the herbicide-treated crops boasted higher values of thousand-kernel weight and grain weight per ear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the response of soil microbial functions to the presence and placement of faba beans in crop rotations (rotation without legumes versus rotations with faba beans as the crop previous to wheat, with the faba beans sown three years before the wheat crops) combined with two tillage systems (conventional and reduced tillage). The study included 36 wheat-producing plots, and two agricultural practice types were defined: high-frequency–low-intensity (HF–LI) and low-frequency–high-intensity (LF–HI). The results demonstrated a significant increase in the total carbon and nitrogen (N) content under reduced tillage. Furthermore, the general path analysis suggested that arylamidase and β-glucosidase activities significantly affect N fluxes. The enzyme activities were modified by changing the soil’s physicochemical properties. These findings highlighted the significance of introducing legumes as the crop preceding wheat, especially when applying conventional tillage. Moreover, it was revealed that farmers’ management of these conservative practices is a leading factor in regulating soil functions. Pesticides and inorganic fertilization inputs were classified as HF–LI practices, while organic matter (OM) inputs and liming treatments were qualified as LF–HI practices. For instance, LF–HI practices (OM inputs and liming) directly and indirectly influenced the soil functions related to the N cycle, while HF–LI practices (pesticide, inorganic N fertilization, and previous crops) resulted in fewer soil function changes.

The effect of no‐tillage (NT) (zero tillage) versus conventional tillage (CT) has been evaluated in rainfed conditions but has seldom been studied under irrigation, where soil sealing favours soil degradation. To contribute to this knowledge, this research analyses soil aggregate stability under disaggregation forces produced under irrigation (causing slaking and mechanical breakdown) and the susceptibility to soil sealing in soils cropped with irrigated maize. Soils were sampled from 0 to 2 and from 0 to 5 cm before maize planting. Soil aggregate stability against both disaggregation processes was expressed by the mean weight diameter (MWD). Soil organic carbon (SOC) was evaluated in aggregates of different size fractions that remained after the disaggregation processes. Soil sealing susceptibility was characterised by the saturated hydraulic conductivity. The results confirmed the high disruption effect of slaking and mechanical breakdown processes. The MWD under those processes was up to 50% smaller and the susceptibility to seal was about three times higher in the soils under CT than under NT. The results of the top 0–2 cm layer showed an aggregate stability against mechanical breakdown 30% smaller than the 0–5 cm layer, which could be due to the soil surface sealing caused by drop impact. Greater MWDs were related to higher SOC values in the aggregates, which were about 20% higher in the soils under NT than under CT. Thus, NT represents an effective management in irrigated soils, reducing soil sealing and helping to maintain greater aggregate stability in soil surface against the disaggregation forces caused by drop impact and wetting processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In temperate monsoon areas, major constraints of soybean production in drained paddy fields are excess soil water during monsoon seasons. To further understand how agronomic practices and weather course affect the yield of soybeans, we conducted field experiments at Gwangju, Korea (35°10′ N, 126°53′ E) over three years (2018–2020). Double-crop soybeans were grown at two tillage systems (TS) [rotary tillage (RT), deep plowing followed by rotary tillage (DPRT)] and three sowing dates (SD) (June 10–15, June 25–30, and July 10–15) in drained paddy fields. Flowering phenology (R2) was accelerated by 5 days with each 15-day delay in SD. This resulted in a significant reduction in vegetative growth up to R2, with subsequent reductions in CGR and NAR through R2–R5 (beginning of grain filling). With a 30-day delay in SD, yield was significantly reduced by 27.0%. The better performance of RT over DPRT was demonstrated by greater yields (13.7%). In addition, yield was greatly varied with weather volatility among years, ranging from 123.8 to 552.0 g m−2. Weather volatility was the greatest contributor to yield variability (30.4%), followed by SD (17.0%) and TS (10.3%). Our results suggest that the yield might be mainly determined by how much growth has already been achieved before flowering and through R2–R5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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