Weed community responses to soil type during transition to no-till practice on smallholder farms in Zimbabwe

Understanding drivers of weed density and diversity is essential for the development of weed management strategies. Here, we compared temporal changes in weed density and diversity under no-till (NT) and conventional (CONV) tillage systems in cotton–maize rotations on loam, clay loam and sandy loam soils immediately after transition to NT in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. The effect of tillage system on weed density varied through the growth season and was dependent upon soil type and species composition of the weed community. Although weed responses to tillage system varied amongst species, we identified general trend effects on weed density on specific soils. At 3 weeks after crop emergence (WACE), weed density on loam soils was 76% and 96% higher in NT than in CONV during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons, respectively, and on clay loam soils it was 37% and 33% higher in NT than CONV, respectively. Weed densities in NT and CONV were similar across all soil types at 6 WACE during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons and at 9 WACE in 2009/2010. Tillage system did not affect weed density during the growth season on sandy loam soils. Weed diversity (Shannon index) was at least 75% higher in NT than CONV on loam and clay loam soils at 3 WACE during both seasons. It is likely these increases in weed densities following conversion to NT will exacerbate already prevalent weed management problems in the smallholder sector. Earlier weeding is recommended to suppress weed emergence and reduce likely associated crop yield losses.     

长期少免耕对中国东北玉米农田土壤呼吸及碳氮变化的影响

在黑土区37年不同耕作模式定位试验田，采用原位法比较常规旋耕灭茬起垄（CT）、旋耕留高茬行间深松-少耕（RT）、免耕（NT）和深翻（PT）4种耕作模式土壤呼吸速率及其与土壤温度和湿度的关系，测定土壤总碳氮、无机氮，微生物碳氮的变化。结果表明，玉米生育期间土壤呼吸呈单峰变化，开花期达最大值，生长季平均呼吸速率依次为RT > NT > CT > PT。4个处理土壤温度与土壤呼吸速率间存在显著指数关系。不同耕作模式0~10 cm土壤温度可解释土壤呼吸速率变异的38.3%~67.9%，温度敏感性系数Q10范围为2.1~5.3；RT和NT处理显著提高0~20 cm土壤碳氮含量；RT处理在0~20 cm土壤中微生物碳含量均高于CT、NT和PT处理。RT处理土壤呼吸对温度响应提高，RT和NT处理显著增加上层土壤总碳氮含量，利于土壤质量提升。     

旱作农田种植碳排放主要因素 及减排措施研究

农业生产是温室气体排放第二大排放源,降低农业生产的碳排放具有意义重大。本文梳理了种植生产过程中碳排放相关的文献,发现种植过程产生碳排放的主要因素之一是化肥的生产和使用。通过优化秸秆和肥料利用模式成为化肥减施和替代的重要途径,综合考虑了农田碳排放和土壤固碳,为进一步研究旱作农田减排措施提供参考。     

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

马铃薯中耕前期圆盘式中耕机设计与试验

针对现有马铃薯中耕机在第1次中耕作业时存在作业效果不佳、易伤苗的问题,对圆盘式马铃薯中耕机进行设计与试验。阐述了该机的工作原理,通过理论计算对其关键部件进行设计,根据农艺培土、除草等作业要求,确定了圆盘式马铃薯中耕机主要结构参数和作业参数;采用单因素和二次旋转正交组合试验,以耕作深度、机车前进速度、调节角为试验因素,以除草率及伤苗率为试验指标进行了样机试验。试验结果表明,当耕作深度为0.13 m、机车前进速度为4.6 km/h、调节角为52°时,除草率为95.2%,伤苗率为3.9%,满足国家标准伤苗率不大于5%、除草率不小于90%的要求。     

Energy use efficiency of deficit-irrigated silage maize in different soil tillage practices on a high plain with a semi-arid climate

ABSTRACT

Energy requirement increases rapidly in agriculture due to the increase in mechanization. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the energy use efficiency of silage maize under three different tillage practices (conventional, reduced, no-tillage) combined with four different irrigation levels (full and three deficit irrigations). The no-tillage and reduced tillage practices provided savings in input energy at the rate of 17.4 and 9.1%, respectively compared to the conventional tillage. The highest silage yields in all irrigation levels were obtained in the no-tillage practice. Therefore, in full and deficit irrigated silage maize, the highest energy ratio, energy productivity and net energy and the lowest specific energy values were manifested in the no-tillage practice. Energy rates in the no-tillage practice were higher by 34.2 and 22.9% than the conventional and the reduced tillage practices, respectively. Moreover, the direct and non-renewable energy requirements were the lowest in the no-tillage practice. In conclusion, the fully-irrigated no-tillage practice can be recommended to obtain the highest energy use ratio and productivity. However, no-tillage irrigated with up to 50% less water amount could be a better alternative for areas with a water shortage by improving the energy use ratio with better water and fuel savings.     

玉米免耕播种机漏播补偿方法对比研究

为解决玉米免耕播种机播种作业时存在漏播的问题，针对漏播自补偿和漏播辅助补偿方法进行了对比研究。对水平圆盘排种器的排种性能进行试验，获取了排种器在不同排种盘转速和播种粒距下排种合格指数、漏播指数和重播指数。由漏播自补偿补种性能分析可得，在排种口检测漏播信号进行加速补种，补种的实际粒距LPR>1.5L，补种粒距依然为漏播，无法实现漏播补偿功能，若在种子脱离排种口之前检测到漏播信号，提前做好加速准备再进行补种，可实现漏播自补偿功能。由漏播自补偿试验可知，漏播自补偿受播种速度和播种粒距影响较大，在播种粒距为20、25cm，播种速度不大于5km/h时，补种合格率不小于88%，在播种粒距为15cm或播种速度大于5km/h时，补种合格率较低；由漏播辅助补偿补种性能试验可知，在播种速度3~7km/h，粒距15~25cm下，补种成功率不小于89%，在播种速度不大于5km/h，补种合格率不小于96%。为了保证补种位置精确，采用漏播辅助补偿装置进行补种，〖JP2〗需合理设计漏播补偿装置安装位置，同时受播种速度、播种粒距、排种盘线速度、投种角的影响，通过合理设计补种装置安装参数后，控制补种装置响应时间t和补偿装置排种盘的线速度vb实现补种位置的精确控制。     

不同耕作方式对黑土区农田土壤物理特性的影响

为探讨耕作方式对黑土区农田土壤物理特性的影响,2016年6—9月在内蒙古自治区呼伦贝尔市阿荣旗试验区设置3种耕作方式深松(SS)、免耕(MG)及常规耕作(CK),分别采集0-10 cm、10-20 cm和20-30 cm土层的土样,对土壤容重、含水量、土壤渗透速率及土壤孔隙度进行调查。结果表明：3种耕作方式土壤容重及含水量均表现为SS>CK>MG；土壤入渗特征表现为初始入渗率>平均渗透率>稳定入渗率；土壤入渗速率及累计入渗量表现为SS>CK>MG；土壤孔隙度以SS处理下最高且随着月份的增加土壤孔隙度降低。主成分分析表明,初始入渗速率和渗透总量对不同耕作方式最为敏感,可以作为考察东北黑土区农田耕作效应与缓解黑土地退化的评价指标。由综合得分可知,不同耕作方式下土壤性能优劣表现为SS>MG>CK。综上,深松耕作可以有效的降低土壤容重,提高土壤含水量,促进土壤渗透能力；免耕更有利于水分的保持,降低土壤的无效蒸发。     

黑土长缓坡地形与横垄对土壤有机碳空间分异的交互作用

横坡垄作对坡耕地土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）流失有一定的阻控作用,但黑土区特有长而缓的地形与横垄对坡耕地SOC空间分异会产生交互作用,而这种交互作用引发的SOC流失风险没引起足够的重视。该研究以典型黑土区黑龙江省黑河市北安分局红星农场为研究区域,2022年在横坡垄作与顺坡水线方向上共布设25个采样点,采用地理探测器模型、单因素方差分析（one-way ANOVA）和Pearson相关性分析,探讨土壤有机碳的空间分异及其交互作用。结果表明,横坡垄作方向上垄沟土壤有机碳含量从坡顶到水线呈现逐渐增大的变化趋势;在垄台从坡顶到水线呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势。顺坡水线方向,土壤有机碳含量在垄沟呈现从上坡到下坡增大的变化趋势;在垄台呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势。由于断垄产生水线,顺坡土壤有机碳含量上坡与下坡仍有显著差异（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析表明, 有机碳与可蚀性K因子呈显著负相关（垄沟和垄台相关系数分别为–0.228和–0.238,P＜0.05）,与碳循环相关的β-葡萄糖苷酶和微生物生物量碳在垄沟呈极显著正相关（相关系数为0.398和0.676,P<0.01）。地理探测器分析表明,顺坡水线对土壤有机碳空间分异的影响最大,其对垄沟和垄台SOC的解释力分别达到61%和52%以上;顺坡水线与其他因子的交互作用共同增强了对土壤有机碳的解释力,尤其是顺坡水线与高程的交互作用最为明显。黑土区坡耕地土壤有机碳空间分异主要受顺坡水线与高程的交互作用,横坡垄作虽然能够拦截径流,但由于长缓坡地形影响产生的断垄会加剧土壤侵蚀诱发的有机碳流失。因此,黑土坡耕地治理需要同时考虑横垄与地形的共同影响,从而实现防蚀的优化效果。     

Tillage Effects on Crop Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Sodic Soils

Tillage modifies soil structure and has been suggested as a practice to improve physical, hydrological and chemical properties of compacted soils. But little is known about effect of long‐term tillage on physicochemical soil properties and crop yield on sodic soils in India. Our objective was to investigate the effect of different tillage regimes on crop yield (wheat and paddy rice) and physicochemical properties of sodic soils. Two sodic sites under conventional tillage for 5 (5‐YT; 5‐year tillage) and 9 (9‐YT; 9‐year tillage) years were selected for this study. Changes in crop yield and physicochemical soil properties were compared with a control, sodic land without any till history, that is, 0‐year tillage/untilled (0‐YT). Five replicated samples at 0‐ to 10‐cm and 10‐ to 20‐cm soils depths were analysed from each site. In the top, 0‐ to 10‐cm soil depth 5‐YT and 9‐YT sites had higher particle density (Pd), porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen (N_t), available nitrogen (N_avail), phosphorus (P_avail) and exchangeable calcium (Exch. Ca⁺⁺) than 0‐YT, whereas bulk density (Bd), C : N ratio and CaCO₃ were significantly lower. Bd, pH, EC and CaCO₃ increased significantly with depth in all the lands, whereas Pd, porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, N_t, N_avail, P_avail and Exch. Ca⁺⁺ decreased. We conclude that continuous tillage and cropping can be useful for physical and chemical restoration of sodic soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.