Effects of rotation tillage on soil improvement and increasing yield and benefit of spring maize
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DOI:10.7606/j.issn.1000-7601.2018.05.10
Key Words: rotational tillage  spring maize  soil organic matter  soil nutrient  grain yield  economic benefit
Author NameAffiliation
WANG Ping Lanzhou Agro-technical Research and Popularization Center, Lanzhou, Gansu 730010, China 
CHEN Juan Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China 
XIE Cheng-jun Lanzhou Agro-technical Research and Popularization Center, Lanzhou, Gansu 730010, China 
WANG Guo-yu Lanzhou Agro-technical Research and Popularization Center, Lanzhou, Gansu 730010, China 
WEN Jian Yongdeng Agro-technical Extension Center of GansuYongdengGansu 730300, China 
ZHANG Li-juan Qingyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingyang, Gansu 745000, China 
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Abstract:
      A long-term practice of applying single soil tillage treatment harms soil structure, crop growth and development in arid area. Effects of different rotational tillage patterns combined with no-tillage, subsoiling and plow tillage on soil fertility and grain yield were explored in continuous cropping spring maize field in arid area. The experiments of NT (continuous no-tillage), ST (continuous subsoiling tillage), PT (continuous plow tillage), ST/NT/ST (subsoiling tillage in first year, no-tillage in the second year, subsoiling tillage in third year), NT/NT/ST (no-tillage in first year, no-tillage in the second year, subsoiling tillage in third year), PT/NT/PT (plow tillage in first year, no-tillage in the second year, plow tillage in third year), PT/NT/ST (plow tillage in first year, no-tillage in the second year, subsoiling tillage in third year), ST/PT/ST (subsoiling tillage in first year, plow tillage in the second year, subsoiling tillage in third year) were conducted in rainfed maize fields from 2014 to 2016.Different rotational tillage patterns on soil porosity, soil nutrients, dry matter and maize yield were measured.Economic benefits were analyzed. The results showed that, soil porosity (SP) decreased first and then increased in the soil depth 0~60 cm and the lowest occurred in the depth 20~40 cm. Rotational tillage could significantly increase SP and the highest was under ST/PT/ST, followed by ST/NT/ST. Comparing to PT, SBD increased under ST/PT/ST by 1.24% and 0.25% respectively. Soil nutrient content in the depth 0~20 cm soil was higher than that in the depth 20~40 cm soil . Rotational tillage with no tillage and subsoiling could increase content of soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus in 0~20 cm soil.The content of soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus were the highest under ST/NT/ST and tillage had no effect on the content of soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus in 20~40 cm soil . Rotational tillage with plow tillage and subsoiling could increase available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in 0~40 cm. The content of soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were the highest under ST/PT/ST. Soil organic matter content was the lowest under NT, and NT increased soil nutrient content in top soil. Comparing to NT, ST and PT, rotational tillage could improve the dry matter accumulacation. ST/NT/ST and PT/NT/PT could enhance dry matter accumulation. PT was not conducive to the growth of maize.ST/NT/ST was the best (ST/NT/ST>NT/NT/ST>ST/PT/ST>ST>NT>PT/NT/ST>PT/NT/PT>PT) after the spring maize grain yield and economic benefit of 8 rotational tillage patterns in 3 years were evaluated comprehensively. Comparing to NT, ST and PT, the average annual yields of 3 years under ST/NT/ST was increased by 5.97%, 3.56% and 15.75% respectively. Rotational tillage of subsoiling tillage, no-tillage and subsoiling tillage (ST/NT/ST) improved good tilth soil structure, also increased soil nutrient contents, could effectively increase the yield and decrease production costs. It was suggested the ST/NT/ST was a more appropriate rotational tillage pattern for the continuous cropping spring maize field in arid area.