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Changes in Soil Properties and Crop Yield under Sustainable Conservation Tillage Systems in Spring Wheat Agroecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Jianyu Yuan

    (College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mahran Sadiq

    (College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, AJK 12350, Pakistan
    College of Agriculture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nasir Rahim

    (Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, AJK 12350, Pakistan)

  • Majid Mahmood Tahir

    (Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, AJK 12350, Pakistan)

  • Yunliang Liang

    (College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Macao Zhuo

    (College of Geology and Jewelry, Lanzhou Resources and Environment Vocational and Technical University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Lijuan Yan

    (College of Agriculture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Aqila Shaheen

    (Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, AJK 12350, Pakistan)

  • Basharat Mahmood

    (Department of Plant Pathology, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, AJK 12350, Pakistan)

  • Guang Li

    (College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

Abstract

The cultivated soils in several semi-arid areas have very low organic matter due to climatic constraints that limit primary crop yield. Conservation tillage systems, outlined here as no tillage, no tillage with straw return and straw incorporation into the field, have been accepted as capable systems that preserve soil’s resources and sustain soil productivity. However, in semi-arid climates, there is presently no knowledge about the influence of different conservation tillage techniques on soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties at different soil depths in spring wheat fields and only little information about spring wheat yield in these management systems. Therefore, the present study was carried out with the objective of examining the impact of conservation tillage systems on soil properties (physical, chemical and biological) and spring wheat yield. The three conservation tillage treatments consisted of no tillage system (NT), wheat stubble return with no tillage (NTS) and straw incorporation with conventional tillage (CTS), as well as one conventional tillage (CT) control treatment, which were evaluated under randomized complete block design with three replications. The three conservation tillage treatments were compared with the conventional tillage control. Conservation tillage significantly increased the bulk density, gravimetric water content, water storage, hydraulic conductivity and soil aggregates and decreased the pore space and soil temperature compared to CT; however, no significant difference was found in the case of field capacity. Soil chemical properties in the 0–40 cm soil layer increased with conservation tillage compared to CT. Conservation tillage also notably increased the soil microbial counts, urease, alkaline phosphatase, invertase, cellulase and catalase activities relative to CT. Microbial biomasses (carbon and nitrogen) and wheat yield significantly elevated under conservation tillage compared to CT. Therefore, conservation tillage could significantly improve soil properties and maintain wheat yield for the research zone.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianyu Yuan & Mahran Sadiq & Nasir Rahim & Majid Mahmood Tahir & Yunliang Liang & Macao Zhuo & Lijuan Yan & Aqila Shaheen & Basharat Mahmood & Guang Li, 2023. "Changes in Soil Properties and Crop Yield under Sustainable Conservation Tillage Systems in Spring Wheat Agroecosystems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:6:p:1253-:d:1174188
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karen Denisse Ordoñez-Morales & Martin Cadena-Zapata & Alejandro Zermeño-González & Santos Campos-Magaña, 2019. "Effect of Tillage Systems on Physical Properties of a Clay Loam Soil under Oats," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Mahran Sadiq & Guang Li & Nasir Rahim & Majid Mahmood Tahir, 2021. "Sustainable Conservation Tillage Technique for Improving Soil Health by Enhancing Soil Physicochemical Quality Indicators under Wheat Mono-Cropping System Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-31, July.
    3. Shokoofeh Sarikhani Khorami & Seyed Abdolreza Kazemeini & Sadegh Afzalinia & Mahesh Kumar Gathala, 2018. "Changes in Soil Properties and Productivity under Different Tillage Practices and Wheat Genotypes: A Short-Term Study in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, September.
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