Responses of soil properties, microbial community and crop yields to various rates of nitrogen fertilization in a wheat–maize cropping system in north-central China

Appropriate agronomic management is vital for the soil fertility and crop output of coastal salt-affected farmlands. Cattle manure incorporation and straw mulching are targeted as effective methods that can improve soil structure and stimulate crop growth, respectively. However, the combined application of manure and straw into salt-affected soils is less documented, especially with limited water supplement. In this study, a 3-year field experiment (2016–2018) was conducted in Binhai district, Tianjin, China to evaluate the effects of traditional tillage without manure and straw mulching application (TT), cattle manure incorporation (CM), straw mulching (SM), and CM combined with SM (CM + SM) on soil physiochemical properties, maize (Zea mays L.) growth, and water use efficiency. TT represented traditional cultivation in the study area without manure and straw application, as a control. All four treatments were carried out in a randomized block design with three replicates. The results demonstrate that CM treatment relieved salinity, decrease bulk density, and thereby stimulated root development. SM also has the advantage of improving salinity via 3-year implementation. Throughout the 3-year cultivation, CM + SM crop yields increased by >14.3% and grain water use index (GWUI) improved by >14.7% in comparison to TT treatment due to the improvement in soil properties. These benefits in soil properties, crop yield, and water use are important for minimizing salt constraints and realizing regional agro-ecological values.

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Strategic Tillage Effects on Crop Yields, Soil Properties, and Weeds in Dryland No-Tillage Systems

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11040662 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 662

Author(s):

Augustine K. Obour ◽

Johnathon D. Holman ◽

Logan M. Simon ◽

Alan J. Schlegel

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Aggregate Size ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Surface ◽

The United States ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Grain Sorghum ◽

K Concentration

Long-term no-till (NT) systems in the semiarid central Great Plains of the United States require flexible management strategies to minimize the impacts of herbicide resistant (HR) kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) and tumble windmill grass (Chloris verticillata Nutt.) as well as nutrient stratification on soil and crop productivity. This study examined strategic tillage (ST) to control HR weeds and improve crop yields in an otherwise long-term NT cropping system. Treatments were three crop rotations: (1) continuous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (WW); (2) wheat-fallow (WF); and (3) wheat-grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)-fallow (WSF); as main plots. Subplots were reduced tillage (RT), continuous NT, and ST of NT. Results showed ST and RT treatments provided significant control of HR weeds. Soil water content at wheat planting was significantly less with RT compared to NT or ST. Strategic tillage did not affect wheat or grain sorghum yields, but RT decreased sorghum yields by 15% compared to NT. Increasing cropping intensity reduced wheat yields. Strategic tillage reduced bulk density and had no effect on aggregate size distribution or mean weight diameter (MWD) compared to NT though RT reduced the proportion of large macroaggregates and MWD. Similarly, ST compared to NT had no effect on soil organic carbon (SOC) or nitrogen (N) concentrations. Soil phosphorus (P) was not different among the tillage treatments though RT increased potassium (K) concentration near the soil surface. The SOC, MWD, and micronutrient availability were greatest with WW though it had significantly lower pH and K concentration. Our results suggest ST could provide a mitigation option for HR weeds in NT systems with little impact on crop yields and soil properties.

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Effects of long-term use of sodic water irrigation, amendments and crop residues on soil properties and crop yields in rice–wheat cropping system in a calcareous soil

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2011.01.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 121 (3) ◽

pp. 363-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

O.P. Choudhary ◽

B.S. Ghuman ◽

Bijay-Singh ◽

N. Thuy ◽

R.J. Buresh

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Calcareous Soil ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping System ◽

Sodic Water

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Soil Carbon and Crop Yields Affected by Irrigation, Tillage, Cropping System, and Nitrogen Fertilization

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj2013.12.0514 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 936-948 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Upendra M. Sainju ◽

William B. Stevens ◽

Thecan Caesar-TonThat

Keyword(s):

Soil Carbon ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping System

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The effects of two organic manures on soil properties and crop yields on a temperate calcareous soil under a wheat–maize cropping system

European Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.1016/j.eja.2009.03.001 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 36-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Yunchen Zhao ◽

Ping Wang ◽

Jianlong Li ◽

Yuru Chen ◽

Xianzhi Ying ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Calcareous Soil ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping System ◽

Organic Manures

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Effect of Tillage Practices on Soil Properties and Crop Productivity in Wheat-Mungbean-Rice Cropping System under Subtropical Climatic Conditions

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2014/437283 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Md. Khairul Alam ◽

Md. Monirul Islam ◽

Nazmus Salahin ◽

Mirza Hasanuzzaman

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Mass Density ◽

Cropping System ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Total N ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Positive Effects

This study was conducted to know cropping cycles required to improve OM status in soil and to investigate the effects of medium-term tillage practices on soil properties and crop yields in Grey Terrace soil of Bangladesh under wheat-mungbean-T.amancropping system. Four different tillage practices, namely, zero tillage (ZT), minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT), and deep tillage (DT), were studied in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with four replications. Tillage practices showed positive effects on soil properties and crop yields. After four cropping cycles, the highest OM accumulation, the maximum root mass density (0–15 cm soil depth), and the improved physical and chemical properties were recorded in the conservational tillage practices. Bulk and particle densities were decreased due to tillage practices, having the highest reduction of these properties and the highest increase of porosity and field capacity in zero tillage. The highest total N, P, K, and S in their available forms were recorded in zero tillage. All tillage practices showed similar yield after four years of cropping cycles. Therefore, we conclude that zero tillage with 20% residue retention was found to be suitable for soil health and achieving optimum yield under the cropping system in Grey Terrace soil (Aeric Albaquept).

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