Effects of Different Tillage and Mulching Modes on Tobacco Output Value and Soil Quality

Based on three years of long-term fixed-site field trial, the effects of differ- ent tillage and mulching modes on the yield and output value of tobacco and soil quality were investigated. The results showed that the yield and output value of to- bacco in tillage treatment were improved by 22.72 % and 37.23 % compared with non-tillage treatment, respectively; the yield and output value of tobacco in rotation treatment were improved by 1.83% and 19.41% compared with continuous cropping treatment, respectively; the yield and output value of tobacco in straw mulching treatment were improved by 3.55% and 2.4% compared with non-straw mulching treatment, respectively, which indicated that tillage, rotation and straw mulching could improve the yield and output value of tobacco to a certain extent; especially, the yield and output value of tobacco increased significantly after plowing under rotation conditions. The contents of available phosphorus （AP）, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen （AN）, organic matter （OM）, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） in non- tillage treatment were 35.14%, 9.92%, 9.57%, 4.40% and 34.16% higher compared with tillage treatment; especially, under non-tillage conditions, soil pH and contents of available potassium （AK）, AP, AN,OM,TN,TP and total potassium （TK） in continu- ous cropping field were 2.01%, 48.68%, 73.09%, 11.45%, 7.71%, 7.31%, 47.68% and 11.78% higher compared with rotation field, indicating that non-tillage treatment and continuous cropping could improve the total content and available content of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, from the perspective of soil fer- tility improvement and sustainable tobacco production, continuous cropping under non-tillage conditions might be the most appropriate cropping pattern for local soil fertility improvement; aiming at improving the yield and output value of tobacco, green manure-tobacco→, green manure/wheat/maize→green manure-tobacco ro- tation might be the most appropriate cropping pattern.

Influences of mechanized tillage and sowing modes on soil physical properties,soybean yield and economic benefits in mollisols region of Northeast China

Appropriate mechanized straw returning and tillage sowing techniques were effective means to optimize soil physical properties and enhance agricultural productivity,as well as important measures for the conservation and restoration of mollisols region in Northeast China.Under the condition of full-scale maize straw returning,four mechanized tillage and sowing modes were set,including plough tillage and sowing(PTS),combined tillage and sowing(CTS),no-tillage and sowing(NTS),and no-tillage and sowing with straw mulching(NTSM).In 2020 and 2021,the study investigated the effects of different mechanized tillage and sowing modes on soil physical properties,soybean yield and economic benefits.The results showed that during the pod-setting and pod-filling period of soybean,the NTS and NTSM treatments exhibited better effects on deep soil insulation and shallow soil moisture retention,the soil physical structure of PTS and CTS treatments were relatively ideal.Compared with PTS and CTS treatments,NTS and NTSM treatments significantly increased soil gravimetric water content(SWC)by 2.35%to 7.98%in the 5-15 cm soil layer and increased soil temperature(ST)by 3.94%to 10.42%in the 25-35 cm soil layer(p<0.05),significantly increased soil bulk density(SBD)by 2.98%to 6.72%and significantly reduced soil total porosity(STP)by 3.88%to 6.53%in the 5-25 cm soil layer,and significantly reduced soil gas phase ratio by 8.26%to 6.27%at the 15-25 cm soil layers,which caused soil three-phase ratio(STPR)of PTS and CTS treatment in 15-25 cm soil layer were relatively ideal.The soybean yield of NTSM treatment in 2020 was not significantly different from PTS and CTS treatment(p>0.05),the soybean yield of NTSM treatment in 2021 significantly increased by 7.30%and 5.84%over PTS and CTS treatments,respectively.And the average annual profit per unit area of NTSM treatment increased by 12.84%,12.41%and 8.57%compared with PTS,CTS and NTS treatments,respectively.Therefore,it was recommended to combine NTSM technique with PTS or CTS technique in a maize-soybean rotation system in mollisols region.The research results provided reference for the selection of appropriate mechanized tillage and sowing techniques in Northeast China’s mollisols region and had important guiding significance and practical value for the construction of rational plow layers and the implementation of conservation tillage.

Effects of Conservation Tillage on Crop Yield: a Case Study in the Part of Typical Ecological Zones in China

To evaluate the effects of different conservation tillage modes on crop yield in various ecological regions, we interviewed peasant households in the Northeast China Plain, North China Plain, Chengdu Plain, and Northwest China Oasis, China, to analyze the influencing factors of the tillage methods on crop yield. An index set was determined from seven yield parameters based on expert consultation and relevant literature. A comprehensive evaluation of conservation tillage methods in the various ecological regions was carried out using fuzzy theory. The approaches with the highest scores were identified for each region： wide and narrow rotation planting with high stubble standing retention in the Northeast China Plain; seeding after rotary tilled of wheat under corn straw mulching and no-tillage seeding of corn and other crops under wheat straw mulching in the North China Plain; no tillage with high stubble retention in the Northwest China Oasis; and no-tillage seeding of wheat and other crops under rice straw mulching in Chengdu Plain. These research data provide a useful guide for the selection of conservation tillage methods for optimum yields in different regions of China.

Effects of Different Nutrient Management Systems and Cultivation Methods on Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

[Objective] The aim was to provide scientific basis for improving the middle and low yielding fields fertility and farmland productivity. [Method] A field experiment was carried out to study the effects of different management practices （including nutrient management systems and cultivation methods） on crop yield and soil fertility in winter wheat/summer maize rotation system. [Result] The crop yield in the treatment of the high yield and high efficiency system was remarkably higher than farmer conventional management practice. After five crop seasons experiment, the contents of soil organic matter for high yield and high efficiency system increased 2.72-3.01 g/kg, and that of soil total nitrogen increased 0.12-0.16 g/kg, the soil Olsen-P increased 5.2 mg/kg and the soil available K （NH4OAC-K） increased about 37.8 mg/kg. [Conclusion] Considering the yield and soil fertility comprehensively, the management system of high yield and high efficiency could effectively increase the crop yield and improve the soil fertility.