Straw Mulching with Minimum Tillage Is the Best Method Suitable for Straw Application under Mechanical Grain Harvesting

Mechanical grain harvesting is a crop production development direction. However, the residue management methods suitable for mechanical grain harvesting have been not established. In order to study the effect of residue management modes on maize yield formation and explore the best residue management methods for mechanical grain harvesting, four crop field surveys were carried out in Southwest China. Crops were mechanically harvested, and the residues were shredded and returned to the field using various straw application methods including straw deep burial with plowing (SDBP), straw shallow burial with rotary tillage (SSBRT), and straw mulching with minimum tillage (SMMT). The first-season rape residues were returned to the field, and the second-season maize yield under SDBP and SSBRT was significantly higher than that under SMMT. However, with the increase in rounds of residue application, compared with SDBP and SSBRT, SMMT continuously increased the soil moisture content in the 0–30 cm soil layer at the early stage of maize growth, increased the soil alkaline-hydrolyzed nitrogen content in the 0–20 cm and 40–60 cm layers, and reduced the soil compaction under 40 cm layer, which were more conducive to the root system growth. Maize yield with the SMMT increased by 5.4% compared with that of the previous season, while the yields with SDBP and SSBRT decreased by 16.7% and 12.7%, respectively, compared with those of the previous season. In conclusion, it is recommended to employ the SMMT method during crop mechanical harvesting, which is of great significance to improve soil quality and increase maize grain yield.

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Impact of crop residue management on crop production and soil chemistry after seven years of crop rotation in temperate climate, loamy soils

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4836 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4836 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Marie-Pierre Hiel ◽

Sophie Barbieux ◽

Jérôme Pierreux ◽

Claire Olivier ◽

Guillaume Lobet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Residue ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Residue Management ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

Crop Residue Management ◽

The Impact

Society is increasingly demanding a more sustainable management of agro-ecosystems in a context of climate change and an ever growing global population. The fate of crop residues is one of the important management aspects under debate, since it represents an unneglectable quantity of organic matter which can be kept in or removed from the agro-ecosystem. The topic of residue management is not new, but the need for global conclusion on the impact of crop residue management on the agro-ecosystem linked to local pedo-climatic conditions has become apparent with an increasing amount of studies showing a diversity of conclusions. This study specifically focusses on temperate climate and loamy soil using a seven-year data set. Between 2008 and 2016, we compared four contrasting residue management strategies differing in the amount of crop residues returned to the soil (incorporation vs. exportation of residues) and in the type of tillage (reduced tillage (10 cm depth) vs. conventional tillage (ploughing at 25 cm depth)) in a field experiment. We assessed the impact of the crop residue management on crop production (three crops—winter wheat, faba bean and maize—cultivated over six cropping seasons), soil organic carbon content, nitrate (${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) soil content and uptake by the crops. The main differences came primarily from the tillage practice and less from the restitution or removal of residues. All years and crops combined, conventional tillage resulted in a yield advantage of 3.4% as compared to reduced tillage, which can be partly explained by a lower germination rate observed under reduced tillage, especially during drier years. On average, only small differences were observed for total organic carbon (TOC) content of the soil, but reduced tillage resulted in a very clear stratification of TOC and also of P and K content as compared to conventional tillage. We observed no effect of residue management on the ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$ content, since the effect of fertilization dominated the effect of residue management. To confirm the results and enhance early tendencies, we believe that the experiment should be followed up in the future to observe whether more consistent changes in the whole agro-ecosystem functioning are present on the long term when managing residues with contrasted strategies.

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Thermal and water regime studied in a thin soil layer of green roof systems at early stage of pedogenesis

Journal of Soils and Sediments ◽

10.1007/s11368-016-1457-7 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 2568-2579 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Vladimira Jelinkova ◽

Michal Dohnal ◽

Jan Sacha

Keyword(s):

Water Regime ◽

Early Stage ◽

Green Roof ◽

Soil Layer

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Peer Review #2 of "Impact of crop residue management on crop production and soil chemistry after seven years of crop rotation in temperate climate, loamy soils (v0.1)"

10.7287/peerj.4836v0.1/reviews/2 ◽

2018 ◽

Keyword(s):

Peer Review ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Soil Chemistry ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Residue ◽

Residue Management ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Crop Residue Management

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Crop Residue Management for Sustenance of Natural Resources and Agriculture Productivity

Agricultural Reviews ◽

10.18805/ag.r-1814 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Maninder Singh ◽

Anita Jaswal ◽

Arshdeep Singh

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Residue ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Residue Management ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Crop Residue Management

Crop residue management (CRM) through conservation agriculture can improve soil productivity and crop production by preserving soil organic matter (SOM) levels. Two major benefits of surface-residue management are improved organic matter (OM) near the soil surface and boosted nutrient cycling and preservation. Larger microbial biomass and activity near the soil surface act as a pool for nutrients desirable in crop production and enhance structural stability for increased infiltration. In addition to the altered nutrient distribution within the soil profile, changes also occur in the chemical and physical properties of the soil. Improved soil C sequestration through enhanced CRM is a cost-effective option for reducing agriculture's impact on the environment. Ideally, CRM practices should be selected to optimize crop yields with negligible adverse effects on the environment. Crop residues of common agricultural crops are chief resources, not only as sources of nutrients for subsequent crops but also for amended soil, water and air quality. Maintaining and managing crop residues in agriculture can be economically beneficial to many producers and more importantly to society. Improved residue management and reduced tillage practices should be encouraged because of their beneficial role in reducing soil degradation and increasing soil productivity. Thus, farmers have a responsibility in making management decisions that will enable them to optimize crop yields and minimize environmental impacts. Multi-disciplinary and integrated efforts by a wide variety of scientists are required to design the best site-specific systems for CRM practices to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability while minimizing environmental impacts.

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Synergy Between a Shallow Root System With a DRO1 Homologue and Localized P Application Improves Rice P Uptake

10.21203/rs.3.rs-138072/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aung Zaw Oo ◽

YASUHIRO TSUJIMOTO ◽

Mana Mukai ◽

Tomohiro Nishigaki ◽

Toshiyuki Takai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Layer ◽

P Uptake ◽

Ore Deposits ◽

Root Surface Area ◽

Genetic Traits ◽

P Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

P Application

Abstract Improved phosphorus (P) use efficiency for crop production is needed given the depleting phosphorus ore deposits and increasing ecological concerns about its excessive use. Root system architecture (RSA) is important in efficiently capturing immobile P in soils, while agronomically, localized P application near the roots is a potential approach to address this issue. However, the interaction between genetic traits of RSA and localized P application has been little understood. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parent of rice (qsor1-NIL, Dro1-NIL, and IR64, with shallow, deep, and intermediate root growth angles (RGA), respectively) were grown in flooded pots after placing P near the roots at transplanting (P-dipping). The experiment identified that the P-dipping created an available P hotspot at the soil surface; the qsor1-NIL had the greatest root biomass and root surface area in the 0–3 cm soil layer despite no genotype differences in total values; the qsor1-NIL had significantly greater biomass and P uptake than the other genotypes in the P-dipping. The superior surface root development of qsor1-NIL could have facilitated P uptakes from the P hotspot, implying that P-use efficiency in crop production can be further increased by combining genetic traits of RSA and localized P application.

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Landscape diagnostic survey data of wheat production practices and yield in eastern India

Open Data Journal for Agricultural Research ◽

10.18174/odjar.v7i0.17959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 20-26

Author(s):

Anurag Ajay ◽

Peter Craufurd ◽

Sachin Sharma

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Census Data ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Open Data ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Residue Management ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Wheat Production ◽

Production Practices

Approximately 7,600 wheat plots were surveyed and geo-tagged in the 2017-18 winter or rabi season in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India to capture farmers’ wheat production practices at the landscape level. A two-stage cluster sampling method, based on Census data and electoral rolls, was used to identify 210 wheat farmers in each of 40 districts. The survey, implemented in Open Data Kit (ODK), recorded 226 variables covering major crop production factors such as previous crop, residue management, crop establishment method, variety and seed sources, nutrient management, irrigation management, weed flora and their management, harvesting method and farmer reported yield. Crop cuts were also made in 10% of fields. Data were very carefully checked with enumerators. These data should be very useful for technology targeting, yield prediction and other spatial analyses.

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Residue and Agronomic Management to Reduce the Continuous Corn Yield Penalty

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9100567 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 567

Author(s):

Vogel ◽

Below

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

Crop Production ◽

Field Experiments ◽

High Volume ◽

Residue Management ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Continuous Corn ◽

Standard Management ◽

Yield Penalty

Accelerated residue degradation and nutrient cycling will be necessary to maximize yield potential in corn (Zea mays L.) grown continuously and in other high-volume residue situations. This study aimed to test if residue management and agronomic inputs could lessen the continuous corn yield penalty (CCYP) compared to a corn following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation. Field experiments conducted during 2017 and 2018 at Champaign, IL, USA compared plots of 15th year continuous corn to long-term corn-soybean rotation plots. The previous year’s corn crop residue was either downsized (chopped) or harvested with standard knife rollers, with further chemical management of either a biocatalyst or ammonium sulfate, or it was left untreated. A standard management system of 79,000 plants ha−1 and a base rate of nitrogen fertilizer was compared to an intensive management system of 111,000 plants ha−1 with additional fertilizer and a foliar fungicide. Although continuous corn cropping stress was not detected until R2 (kernel blister stage), the CCYP was 1.30 Mg ha−1. Sizing residue enhanced overwinter residue decomposition and increased yield by 0.31 Mg ha−1 regardless of rotation and by 0.53 Mg ha−1 in continuous corn. Intensive inputs in combination with residue sizing increased grain yield of continuous corn by 1.15 Mg ha−1 over standard-management rotated yields. Therefore, combining mechanical and agronomic managements can reduce corn residue and the CCYP for more sustainable crop production.

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Pre-Sowing Irrigation Plus Surface Fertilization Improves Morpho-Physiological Traits and Sustaining Water-Nitrogen Productivity of Cotton

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9110772 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 772

Author(s):

Zongkui Chen ◽

Hongyun Gao ◽

Fei Hou ◽

Aziz Khan ◽

Honghai Luo

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Reductase ◽

Root Growth ◽

Root Length ◽

Crop Production ◽

Nitrate Reductase Activity ◽

Reductase Activity ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Cotton Production ◽

Nitrogen Productivity

The changing climatic conditions are causing erratic rains and frequent episodes of moisture stress; these impose a great challenge to cotton productivity by negatively affecting plant physiological, biochemical and molecular processes. This situation requires an efficient management of water-nutrient to achieve optimal crop production. Wise use of water-nutrient in cotton production and improved water use-efficiency may help to produce more crop per drop. We hypothesized that the application of nitrogen into deep soil layers can improve water-nitrogen productivity by promoting root growth and functional attributes of cotton crop. To test this hypothesis, a two-year pot experiment under field conditions was conducted to explore the effects of two irrigation levels (i.e., pre-sowing irrigation (W80) and no pre-sowing irrigation (W0)) combined with different fertilization methods (i.e., surface application (F10) and deep application (F30)) on soil water content, soil available nitrogen, roots morpho-physiological attributes, dry mass and water-nitrogen productivity of cotton. W80 treatment increased root length by 3.1%–17.5% in the 0–40 cm soil layer compared with W0. W80 had 11.3%–52.9% higher root nitrate reductase activity in the 10–30 cm soil layer and 18.8%–67.9% in the 60–80 cm soil layer compared with W0. The W80F10 resulted in 4.3%–44.1% greater root nitrate reductase activity compared with other treatments in the 0–30 cm soil layer at 54–84 days after emergence. Water-nitrogen productivity was positively associated with dry mass, water consumption, root length and root nitrate reductase activity. Our data highlighted that pre-sowing irrigation coupled with basal surface fertilization is a promising option in terms of improved cotton root growth. Functioning in the surface soil profile led to a higher reproductive organ biomass production and water-nitrogen productivity.

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Closing Yield Gaps through Soil Improvement for Maize Production in Coastal Saline Soil

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9100573 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 573 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jishi Zhang ◽

Xilong Jiang ◽

Yanfang Xue ◽

Zongxin Li ◽

Botao Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

High Salinity ◽

Saline Soil ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Improvement ◽

Salinity Level ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Coastal Saline Soil ◽

Salinity Levels ◽

Yield Gaps

As efforts to close crop production yield gaps increase, the need has emerged to identify cost-effective strategies to reduce yield losses through soil improvement. Maize (Zea mays L.) production in coastal saline soil is limited by high salinity and high pH, and a limited number of soil amendment options are available. We performed a field experiment in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the ability of combined flue gas desulfurization gypsum and furfural residue application (CA) to reduce the maize yield gap and improve soil properties. We carried out the same amendment treatments (CA and no amendment as a control) under moderate (electrical conductivity (EC1:1) ≈ 4 dS m−1) and high (EC1:1 ≈ 6 dS m−1) salinity levels. Averaged over all salinity levels and years, maize yields increased from 32.6% of yield potential in the control to 44.2% with the CA treatments. Post-harvest CA treatment increased the calcium (Ca2+) and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents while decreasing the sodium (Na+) content and pH in the upper soil layer. Corresponding nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium accumulations in maize were significantly increased, and Na accumulation was decreased in the CA group compared with the control. The economic return associated with CA treatment increased by 215 $ ha−1 at the high salinity level compared with the control, but decreased at the moderate salinity level because of the minor increase in yield. The results of this study provide insight into the reduction of yield gaps by addressing soil constraints.

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