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Contributions of long‐term tillage systems on crop production and soil properties in the semi‐arid Loess Plateau of China
Author(s) -
Niu Yining,
Zhang Renzhi,
Luo Zhuzhu,
Li Lingling,
Cai Liqun,
Li Guang,
Xie Junhong
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.7382
Subject(s) - tillage , agronomy , no till farming , mulch , field pea , sativum , conventional tillage , environmental science , arid , soil quality , soil fertility , soil water , biology , soil science , ecology
BACKGROUND This study determined the long‐term effect of tillage systems on soil properties and crop yields in a semi‐arid environment. Field pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were alternately grown in six tillage systems at Dingxi (35° 28′ N, 104° 44′ E), north‐west China starting in 2001. RESULTS After the first 6 years of experiments, conventional tillage with stubble incorporating ( TS ) and no‐till with stubble cover ( NTS ) increased soil organic matter by 9.9% and 13.0%, respectively, compared to the conventional tillage with stubble removed (T); both TS and NTS also increased soil microbial counts, available K and P, and total N. No‐till with stubble removed ( NT ), NTS and NTP (no‐till with plastic mulching) had 20.7%, 62.6% and 43.7% greater alkaline phosphatase activity compared to the T treatment. Soil catalase, urease and invertase activities were all greater in the no‐till treatments than in the T treatment. Averaged across 6 years, both wheat and pea achieved highest grain yields under NTS treatment. CONCLUSION No‐till with stubble retention is the most promising system for improving soil physical, biological and chemical properties, and increasing crop yields, and thus, this system can be adopted in areas with conditions similar to the semi‐arid north‐west China. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry