Biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer affects soil properties and wheat yield in medium-low-yield farmland

Biochar combined with fertilizer as a soil amendment benefits to improving soil fertility, especially soil organic carbon and crop yield. However, the effect of biochar on the improvement of soil properties and crop yield was varied from soil properties and limited for medium–low-yield farmland in the North China. During the completely randomized field experiment, SIX treatments (biochar applied as 0, 15 and 30 t·ha^-1, under 240 and 300 kg N ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer) were applied in wheat season and examined to reveal changes in the SOC and other properties of 0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm soil layers. The results showed that two years after the application of biochar, a significant increase in the SOC was observed, ranging from 19.52% to 97.50% (p < 0.05) in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing amount of biochar applied under the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer. The content of soil available potassium increased significantly under 30 t·ha^-1 biochar application (p < 0.05). Both biochar and nitrogen fertilizer application could increase wheat yield, and the effect of biochar application for increasing wheat yield was better than that of nitrogen fertilizer. Wheat yield and SOC content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer at the same amount of biochar application. The principal component analysis results showed that biochar input, SOC, available potassium and total nitrogen were the key factors affecting wheat yield. Biochar application is a fast and effective measure to improve SOC and wheat yield in medium- and low-yield farmlands.     

Usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy for the prediction of chemical and biological soil properties in different long‐term experiments

The prediction accuracy of visible and near‐infrared (Vis‐NIR) spectroscopy for soil chemical and biological parameters has been variable and the reasons for this are not completely understood. Objectives were (1) to explore the predictability of a series of chemical and biological properties for three different soil populations and—based on these heterogeneous data sets—(2) to analyze possible predictive mechanisms statistically. A number of 422 samples from three arable soils in Germany (a sandy Haplic Cambisol and two silty Haplic Luvisols) of different long‐term experiments were sampled, their chemical and biological properties determined and their reflectance spectra in the Vis‐NIR region recorded after shock‐freezing followed by freeze‐drying. Cross‐validation was carried out for the entire population as well as for each population from the respective sites. For the entire population, excellent prediction accuracies were found for the contents of soil organic C (SOC) and total P. The contents of total N and microbial biomass C and pH were predicted with good accuracy. However, prediction accuracy for the other properties was less: content of total S was predicted approximately quantitatively, whereas Vis‐NIR spectroscopy could only differentiate between high and low values for the contents of microbial N, ergosterol, and the ratio of ergosterol to microbial biomass C. Contents of microbial biomass P and S, basal respiration, and qCO₂ could not be predicted. Prediction accuracies were greatest for the entire population and the Luvisol at Garte, followed by the Luvisol at Hohes Feld, whereas the accuracy for the sandy Cambisol was poor. The poor accuracy for the sandy Cambisol may have been due to only smaller correlations between the measured properties and the SOC content compared to the Luvisols or due to a general poor prediction performance for sandy soils. Another reason for the poor accuracy may have been the smaller range of contents in the sandy soil. Overall, the data indicated that the accuracy of predictions of soil properties depends largely on the population investigated. For the entire population, the usefulness of Vis‐NIR for the number of chemical and biological soil properties was evident by markedly greater correlation coefficients (measured against Vis‐NIR predicted) compared to the Pearson correlation coefficients of the measured properties against the SOC content. However, the cross‐validation results are valid only for the closed population used in this study.     

Use of mid‐infrared spectroscopy in the diffuse‐reflectance mode for the prediction of the composition of organic matter in soil and litter

Mid‐infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) is assumed to be superior to near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of soil constituents, but its usefulness is still not sufficiently explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of MIRS to predict the chemical and biological properties of organic matter in soils and litter. Reflectance spectra of the mid‐infrared region including part of the near‐infrared region (7000–400 cm^–1) were recorded for 56 soil and litter samples from agricultural and forest sites. Spectra were used to predict general and biological characteristics of the samples as well as the C composition which was measured by ¹³C CPMAS‐NMR spectroscopy. A partial least‐square method and cross‐validation were used to develop equations for the different constituents over selected spectra ranges after several mathematical treatments of the spectra. Mid‐infrared spectroscopy predicted well the C : N ratio: the modeling efficiency EF was 0.95, the regression coefficient (a) of a linear regression (measured against predicted values) was 1.0, and the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.98. Satisfactorily (EF ≥ 0.70, 0.8 ≤ a ≤ 1.2, r ≥ 0.80) assessed were the contents of C, N, and lignin, the production of dissolved organic carbon, and the contents of carbonyl C, aromatic C, O‐alkyl C, and alkyl C. However, the N mineralization rate, the microbial biomass and the alkyl–to–aromatic C ratio were predicted less satisfactorily (EF < 0.70). Limiting the sample set to mineral soils did generally not result in improved predictions. The good and satisfactory predictions reported above indicate a marked usefulness of MIRS in the assessment of chemical characteristics of soils and litter, but the accuracies of the MIRS predictions in the diffuse‐reflectance mode were generally not superior to those of NIRS.     

Effects of sugarcane residue and green manure practices in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat sequence on productivity,soil fertility and soil biological properties

In a field experiment conducted during 2002 to 2004 in silty clay loam soil at Pantnagar, India, treatment of trash burning + Sesbania aculeata green manure (GM) incorporation gave the highest increases of 50.6 and 17.7% in ratoon cane yield and 15.0 and 19.4% in wheat grain yield over trash removal and trash burning treatments, respectively. Soil organic C and available N after ratoon and wheat crops were highest with trash removal + GM incorporation and available P and K with trash removal + GM mulch. The different treatments of trash and GM management were also superior to trash removal and trash burning in organic C and available N and P in soil at termination of the study. Soil microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity at the end were at a maximum with trash burning + GM mulch and trash removal + GM mulch treatments, respectively. Compared to trash removal and trash burning, counts of bacteria in soil after ratoon and wheat crops were significantly more only with different GM treatments; however, all GM and trash application treatments recorded significantly higher counts of fungi and actinomycetes. Irrespective of the treatments, population of total bacteria in soil decreased, while that of fungi and actinomycetes increased as compared to their initial counts following sugarcane-ratoon-wheat sequence.     

Sewage sludge treated with bentonite,vermiculite or biochar can improve soil properties and enhance growth of grasses

Sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was evaluated as a soil amendment in comparison to limed and untreated sludge. Seven treatments were established to two soils, an acid and an alkaline, in three replications, i.e. 2% addition of sludge treated with bentonite, vermiculite, biochar and lime and application of 2% untreated sludge, inorganic fertilization and no sludge or inorganic fertilizers (control). Then, the soil treatments were used in a pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a test plant. Sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar improved pH of the acid soil and significantly increased organic matter and available nutrients of both soils compared to control. Although no salinity or sodicity hazard was evidenced, the initial salinity of acid and alkaline soil increased by four-eight and two-three times, respectively, upon addition of all sludge treatments, especially that of untreated sludge. Moreover, soil available zinc (Zn) increased by four-eight times. Soil application of sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar increased the total aboveground biomass yield of ryegrass in the acid and alkaline soil by 133%–171% and 72%–88%, respectively, compared to control and enhanced nutrient uptake by plants. Furthermore the microbial metabolic quotient indicated lack of low pH and heavy metal stress with addition of sludge to the acid soil. After three harvests of ryegrass, the residual effect of sludge on pH of acid soil and salinity, available phosphorus (P), Zn and boron (B) of both soils still persisted. Thus sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could be applied to soils at a rate of 2% (≈80 Mg ha⁻¹) to serve as soil amendment and fertilizer for grasses and pasture species; however, caution is needed regarding possible P build-up, Zn phytotoxicity and salinization risks.     

The impact of land‐cover change on soil properties in northern Ghana

Effects of changes in land‐cover on soil quality parameters in an area in northern Ghana were studied. Land‐cover changes were derived from maps of the study area for 1984, 1992 and 1999. There were no significant differences between properties of soils under natural vegetation and soils put under cultivation from 1992, but permanently cultivated soils (1984–1999) showed significantly lower physical and chemical soil properties. Soils recently opened up since 1992 for cultivation in the last seven years (i.e. 1992–1999) were found to manifest significantly higher contents of organic C, N, Ca, Mg and ECEC than those under permanent cultivation, suggesting that continuous cropping is responsible for deterioration in soil quality. Minimum organic C contents necessary to meet critical levels of selected soil quality parameters were estimated. The organic C content of recently cultivated soils would need to be increased by about 7 t ha⁻ to replenish soil nutrient capital. This calls for a strategy to synchronize organic matter management with inorganic fertilizer application. Further research is also needed to develop farming systems that conserve organic matter and also improve the quality of organic matter in the study area. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phosphorus speciation in cultivated organic soils revealed by P K‐edge XANES spectroscopy

Cultivated organic soils make a significant contribution to phosphorus (P) leaching losses from agricultural land, despite occupying a small proportion of cultivated area. However, less is known about P mobilisation processes and the P forms present in peat soils compared with mineral soils. In this study, P forms and their distribution with depth were investigated in two cultivated Histosol profiles, using a combination of wet chemical extraction and P K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Both profiles had elevated P content in the topsoil, amounting to around 40 mmol kg^?1, and P speciation in both profiles was strongly dominated by organic P. Topsoils were particularly rich in organic P (P‐org), with relative proportions of up to 80%. Inorganic P in the profiles was almost exclusively adsorbed to surface reactive aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) minerals. In one of the pro‐files, small contributions of Ca‐phosphates were detected. A commonly used P saturation index (PSI) based on ammonium‐oxalate extraction indicated a low to moderate risk of P leaching from both profiles. However, the capacity of soil Al and Fe to retain P in organic soils could be reduced by high competition from organic compounds for sorption sites. This is not directly accounted for in PSI and similar indices. Accumulation of P‐org in the topsoil may be attributable by microbial peat decomposition and transformation of mineral fertiliser P by both microbiota and crops. Moreover, high carbon–phosphorus ratio in the surface peat material in both profiles suggests reduced net mineralisation of P‐org in the two soils. However, advancing microbial peat decomposition will eventually lead to complete loss of peat horizons and to mineralisation of P‐org. Hence, P‐org in both profiles represents a huge potentially mobilised P pool.     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy can predict the composition of organic matter in soil and litter

The usefulness and limitations of near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the assessment of several soil characteristics are still not sufficiently explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of visible and near‐infrared reflectance (VIS‐NIR) spectroscopy to predict the composition of organic matter in soils and litter. Reflectance spectra of the VIS‐NIR region (400–2500 nm) were recorded for 56 soil and litter samples from agricultural and forest sites. Spectra were used to predict general and biological characteristics of the samples as well as the C composition which was measured by ¹³C‐CPMAS‐NMR spectroscopy. A modified partial least‐square method and cross‐validation were used to develop equations for the different constituents over the whole spectrum (1st to 3rd derivation). Near‐infrared spectroscopy predicted well the C : N ratios, the percentages of O‐alkyl C and alkyl C, the ratio of alkyl C to O‐alkyl C, and the sum of phenolic oxidation products: the ratios of standard deviation of the laboratory results to standard error of cross‐validation (RSC) were greater than 2, the regression coefficients (a) of a linear regression (measured against predicted values) ranged from 0.9 to 1.1, and the correlation coefficients (r) were greater than 0.9. Satisfactorily (0.8 ≤ a ≤ 1.2, r ≥ 0.8, and 1.4 ≤ RSC ≤ 2.0) assessed were the contents of C, N, and production of DOC, the percentages of carbonyl C and aromatic C and the ratio of alkyl C to aromatic C. However, the N‐mineralization rate and the microbial biomass were predicted unsatisfactorily (RSC < 1.4). The good and satisfactory predictions reported above indicate a marked usefulness of NIRS in the assessment of biological and chemical characteristics of soils and litter.     

Effects of soil conservation on soil properties of citrus orchards in the Three‐Gorges Area,China

Mountain region citrus production systems occupy large parts of the landscape prone to soil erosion in the Three‐Gorges Area of China. Several soil conservation measures, such as terracing hedgerows, are widely implemented in citrus orchards to control soil erosion. However, little is known about the effect of those measures on soil properties. The objective of this work was to analyse the changes of soil properties in citrus orchards subjected to different conservation measures. Experiments were conducted in four plots: control plot (SC, sloping orchard without conservation measures), sloping orchard with contour hedgerows (SCH), terraced orchard (TC) and terraced orchard with grass cover (TCG). Samples of soil surface from 0 to 15 cm were collected to analyse texture, bulk density (BD), aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil organic matter (SOM) and soil nutrients. The spatial variability of those properties was also evaluated at slope and field scales. The results showed that the three conservation measures significantly increased saturated hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability, SOM and available N, P, K, but decreased BD. The terracing with grass cover measures were the most effective in improving soil fertility among the three measures. The average SOM, available P, N, K in TCG were 0·27, 0·50, 1·74 and 1·72 and these rates are larger than for the in SC. Compared to SC, silt content was increased the SCH, while clay content was increased with TC and TCG. There was a downslope increase in clay content and total N but a decrease in gravels in the SC plot. However, that trend did not exist in the other plots. At the field scale, the soil aggregate stability and total nitrogen were significantly higher near the hedgerow under SCH, and the available N was significantly higher in the middle position under TC; the other soil properties had no significant trends based on the distance to hedgerow or stone bunds. Results of this study will contribute to a further understanding of the environmental influence of soil conservation measures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pedotransfer functions to assess adsorbed phosphate using iron oxide content and magnetic susceptibility in an Oxisol

Adsorbed phosphate in soils can be chemically extracted; however, this process is both time‐consuming and not cost‐effective if large numbers of samples have to be analysed. Indirect assessment of adsorbed phosphate by pedotransfer functions (PTFs) can help optimize fertilizer strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial variability of adsorbed phosphate (P_ads), iron oxides and magnetic susceptibility (MS) in oxisols and to calibrate PTFs to predict P_ads. A total of 308 soil samples were collected from Hapludox and Eutrudox soils formed from sandstone in Brazil. The contents of clay (196–607 g/kg), iron oxides (40–165 g/kg), MS (1.2–29 × 10^?6 m³/kg) and P_ads (327–842 mg/kg) were in the range of typical values for these highly weathered soils. This study showed that the attributes studied were spatially dependent. Geomorphic surfaces enabled understanding of spatial variability and helped to develop a more efficient sampling scheme to calibrate PTFs. Moreover, the adsorbed phosphate in these oxisols could be predicted by a PTF using iron oxides and MS as predictors. The MS attribute enabled the most accurate prediction (concordance coefficient = 0.95, root‐mean‐square error = 46 mg/kg and relative improvement in root‐mean‐square error = ?4.12) of spatial variability through PTF compared to other predictors.     

Stabilization of organic matter by soil minerals — investigations of density and particle‐size fractions from two acid forest soils

We tested the hypothesis whether organic matter in subsoils is a large contributor to organic carbon (OC) in terrestrial ecosystems and if survival of organic matter in subsoils is the result of an association with the soil mineral matrix. We approached this by analyzing two forest soil profiles, a Haplic Podzol and a Dystric Cambisol, for the depth distribution of OC, its distribution among density and particle‐size fractions, and the extractability of OC after destruction of the mineral phase by treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF). The results were related to indicators of the soil mineralogy and the specific surface area. Finally, scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX) was used to visualize the location of OC at mineral surfaces and associations with elements of mineral phases. The subsoils (B and C horizons) contained 40—50% of the soil OC including the organic forest floor layers. With increasing depth of soil profiles (1) the radiocarbon ages increased, and (2) increasing portions of OC were either HF‐soluble, or located in the density fraction d >1.6 g cm^—3, or in the clay fraction. The proportions of OC in the density fraction d >1.6 g cm^—3 were closely correlated to the contents of oxalate and dithionite‐citrate‐bicarbonate‐extractable Fe (r² = 0.93 and 0.88, P <0.001). SEM‐EDX analyses suggested associations of OC with aluminum whereas silicon‐enriched regions were poor in OC. The specific surface area and the microporosity of the soil mineral matrix after destruction of organic matter were less closely correlated to OC than the extractable iron fractions. This is possibly due to variable surface loadings, depending on different OC inputs with depth. Our results imply that subsoils are important for the storage of OC in terrestrial ecosystems because of intimate association of organic matter with secondary hydrous aluminum and iron phases leading to stabilization against biological degradation.     

Field level digital mapping of soil mineralogy using proximal and remote‐sensed data

Primary (e.g., quartz) and secondary (clay) minerals are key factors determining the physical and chemical characteristics of soil. Understanding spatial distribution of minerals at the field scale would, therefore, be of potential benefit for soil management. However, current analysis requires time‐consuming laboratory procedures and computational quantification analysis (e.g., SIROQUANT). Furthermore, mineral composition (e.g., quartz, kaolinite, illite and expandable clay minerals) must sum to 100. We aimed to add value to laboratory data by developing multiple linear regression (MLR) relationships between mineralogy and ancillary data such as digital numbers (DNs) (i.e., Red [R], Green [G] and Blue [B]) acquired from remotely sensed air‐photographs and soil apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a – mS/m) measured from proximal sensing electromagnetic (EM) instruments (i.e., EM38 and EM31). To account for composition, we compare results from the MLR approach with those from additive log‐ratio (ALR) transformation of mineralogy prior to MLR modelling. This approach together with various ancillary data and trend surface parameters (i.e., scaled Easting and Northing) has greater precision and less bias of prediction than the MLR approach using untransformed data. Our approach also enables predictions to sum to 100. We conclude that the most useful ancillary data to predict the abundance of quartz, kaolinite and illite are B DNs and EM31, while expandable clays are best predicted with R DNs, EM38 and scaled Northing. The use of ancillary data to map mineralogical components combined with ALR‐MLR is an effective approach, with resulting maps providing insights into soil and water management issues consistent with farmer experience.     

Erosional impacts on soil properties and corn yield on Alfisols in central Ohio

Accelerated soil erosion can impact upon agronomic productivity by reducing topsoil depth (TSD), decreasing plant available water capacity and creating nutrient imbalance in soil and within plant. Research information on soil‐specific cause – effect relationship is needed to develop management strategies for restoring productivity of eroded soils. Therefore, two field experiments were established on Alfisols in central Ohio to quantify erosion‐induced changes in soil properties and assess their effects on corn growth and yield. Experiment 1 involved studying the effects of past erosion on soil properties and corn yield on field runoff plots where soil was severely eroded and comparing it with that on adjacent slightly eroded soil. In addition, soil properties and corn grain yield in runoff plots were compared on side‐slopes with that on toe‐slopes or depositional sites. Experiment 2 involved relating corn growth and yield to topsoil depth on a sloping land. With recommended rates of fertilizer application, corn grain yield did not differ among erosional phases. Fertilizer application masked the adverse effects of erosion on corn yield. Corn grain yield on depositional sites was about 50 per cent more than that on side‐slope position. Corn plants on the side‐slope positions exhibited symptoms of nutrient deficiency, and the ear leaves contained significantly lower concentrations of P and Mg and higher concentrations of Mn and K than those grown on depositional sites. Corn grain yield in experiment 2 was positively correlated with the TSD. Soil in the depositional site contained significantly more sand and silt and less clay than that on the side‐slope position. There were also differences in soil properties among erosional phases. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content was 19\7 g kg⁻¹ in slightly eroded compared with 15\1 g kg⁻¹ in severely eroded sites. Aggregate stability and the mean weight diameter (MWD) were also significantly more in slightly eroded than severely eroded soils. Adverse effects of severe erosion on soil quality were related to reduction in soil water retention, and decrease in soil concentration of N and P, and increase in those of K, Ca and Mg. Severe erosion increased leaf nutrient contents of K, Mn and Fe and decreased those of Ca and Mg. Corn grain yield was positively correlated with aggregation, silt and soil N contents. It was also negatively correlated with leaf content of Fe. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The application of biochar on soil acidity and other physico‐chemical properties of soils in southern Ethiopia

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of biochar amendment on soil acidity and other physico‐chemical properties of soil in Southern Ethiopia using a field experiment of three treatments: (1) biochar made of corn cobs, (2) biochar made of chopped Lantana camara stem, and (3) biochar made of Eucalyptus globulus feedstock and a control, in which neither of the biochar was used. Each treatment had three levels of 6, 12 and 18 t ha⁻¹. The experiment was setup with RCBD in a factorial arrangement with three replications. In this regard, a total of 36 plots (each 2 × 2 m size) were applied with three replications to the depth of 0–15cm. From these 36 plots, composite soil samples were collected to the depth of 0–30 cm and analyzed for bulk density, total porosity, pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, and exchangeable acidity using standard procedures before and after biochar application. Two‐way ANOVA was also used to analyze the impact of the biochars on soil acidity and other properties. For the treatments that had significant effects, a mean separation was made using Least Significance Difference (LSD) test. The results showed the application of biochar significantly reduced, soil bulk density and exchangeable acidity when compared with a control (p < 0.05). Moreover, the total soil porosity, soil pH, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and potassium were significantly increased in the soil. From among applied biochar treatments, Lantana camara applied at the level of 18 t ha⁻¹ had a higher impact in changing soil physico‐chemical properties. In general, the study suggests that the soil acidity can be reduced by applying biochar as it can amend other soil physico‐chemical properties.     

不同生态区核桃林地肥水管理及土壤肥力差异研究

为了解不同生态区核桃林地肥水管理现状和土壤肥力特征的差异,选择山东省山地、山前平原和平原3个生态区的典型核桃生产园进行肥水管理状况调查和土壤肥力评价.结果表明:(1)山地核桃灌水和施肥的农户占比分别为16.7％和29.2％,低于山前平原和平原区,管理粗放;施用化学肥料和有机肥料的农户占比山前平原分别为67.0％、56....     

Biological soil crust and surface soil properties in different vegetation types of Horqin Sand Land,China

Physical and chemical properties (including coverage, thickness, hardness, moisture, particle size distribution, organic matter and nutrient contents etc.) of biological soil crust and 0–5.0 cm surface soil under the crust in three types of vegetation (semi-shrub Artemisia frigida, shrub Salix gordejevii and tree Populus simonii) were surveyed in 2005 and 2006 in Horqin Sand Land to understand the effects of different vegetation types on development of soil crust and surface soil properties under crust. The results showed that 1) no physical soil crust or biological soil crust (BSC) formed on mobile dunes without vegetation, though most ground surface in originally mobile dunes had been covered by BSC fifteen years after planted vegetation was established; 2) BSC development was best in shrub S. gordejevii sites, second in semi-shrub A. frigida sites, and weakest in tree P. simonii sites; 3) development of BSC was better in moss crust distributed mainly beneath or near plant canopies than in lichen crust distributed mainly between plant canopies in all three vegetation types; 4) surface soil properties 0–5.0 cm under BSC were improved significantly in all three vegetation types compared to those in mobile sand land. The magnitude of improvement was greater in S. gordejevii sites than in A. frigida and P. simonii sites, and greater in moss crust sites than lichen crust sites, but the magnitude of improvement decreased significantly with increasing surface soil depth; 5) based on the above-mentioned results, we suggest that S. gordejevii should be favored in future planting in Horqin Sand Land.     

Effects of 10 years of conservation tillage on soil properties and productivity in the farming–pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia, China

Soil degradation and subsequent yield decline are the main factors limiting further development of agriculture on the farming–pastoral transition zone of China. A 10-year field experiment was conducted in Inner Mongolia to compare the long-term effects of no-tillage with straw cover (NT), subsoiling with straw cover (ST), rototilling with straw cover (RT) and traditional tillage (TT) using ploughs on soil properties and productivity in a spring wheat–oat cropping system. Long-term conservation tillage increased soil organic matter in the top 20 cm by 21.4%, total N by 31.8% and Olsen's P by 34.5% in the 0–5 cm layer compared to traditional tillage. Mean percentage of macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm, +20%) and macroporosity (>60 μm, +52.1%) also improved significantly in the 0–30 cm soil layer ( P  <   0.05). The largest yield improvements coupled with greatest water use efficiency (WUE) were achieved by no-tillage with straw cover. Ten-year mean crop yields increased by 14.0% and WUE improved by 13.5% compared to traditional tillage due to greater soil moisture and improved soil physical and chemical status. These improvements in soil properties and productivity are of considerable importance for the seriously degraded soils in semiarid Inner Mongolia, as well as for food security, sustainable agriculture and carbon storage in the farming–pasture transition regions of China.