Is it necessary to adjust nitrogen recommendations for tillage and wheat residue management in irrigated sweet corn?

ABSTRACT

Conservation tillage practices have gained interests. A 2-year field study (2014–2015) was conducted to evaluate four N rates (0, 69, 138, and 207 kg N ha^?1) effects on irrigated sweet corn (Zea mays L.) grown with or without wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue removal and conventional (CT), reduced (RT), or no-tillage (NT) practices near Shiraz, Iran. After 2 years, maximum marketable yield occurred at 156 and 159 kg N ha^?1 under CT and NT, respectively, while yield was tended to be increased with increasing N rates under RT. Increasing N rate increased total plant N uptake, shoot, and grain N accumulation. The lowest nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was obtained under NT, while RT and CT either showed similar effects or RT was superior over CT. Soil total N was greater under CT and residue retention showed 18% and 14% higher N concentration than residue removal in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Soil organic matter was the highest (2.59%) under RT with residue retention and 138 kg N ha^?1. Conservation tillage needs more N rather than CT during transition from conventional to conservation agriculture practices, but it is based on the short-term results and evaluation of long-term experiment is highly recommended.     

Influence of wheat residue management on irrigated corn grain production in a reduced tillage system

Management of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues for corn (Zea mays L.) planting is an important issue in southern parts of Iran where these two irrigated crops are consecutively grown. Concerns have been raised in recent years over the burning of the crop residues by farmers in these areas. A 2-year (2001–2002) field experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of irrigated corn planted, after burning wheat residues followed by conventional tillage (CT), after residue removal followed by CT, after soil incorporation of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of residue followed by chisel plow, disk harrow, and row crop planter equipped with row cleaner. The CT operations consisted of mollboard plowing followed by two times disk harrowing. Treatments had significant effects on corn grain yield, biological yield, and leaf area index. The highest grain yield (15.73 t ha⁻¹) and grains per ear (709.3) were obtained when 25–50% of wheat residues were soil incorporated and the seeds were sown with planter equipped with row cleaner in both years as compared with conventional tillage practices. It is recommended that complete residue removal or burning should be avoided; hence for successful corn production after wheat, residue management techniques that reduce residue level in the row area should be implemented.     

Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha^?1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha^?1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha^?1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.     

Yield and yield components of two irrigated red bean cultivars and some soil properties as influenced by wheat residues and nitrogen management

Crop residues are beneficial substances affecting crop production and soil properties. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue rates (0, 25, 50 and 75%) combined with N levels (0, 34.5, 69, 103.5 kg ha^?1) on yield and yield components of two red common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars and to monitor chemical soil parameters. The experiment was conducted at Research Center, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran for two years (2008–2009). The experiment was conducted as a split–split plot arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The highest seed yield was obtained when 25–50% of residues were incorporated. The highest seed yield, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight and seed number per pod were obtained with 103.5 kg N ha^?1 with no significant difference to 69 kg N ha^?1. Residue incorporation significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) as well as available K and P content. It is possible to sow red common bean as a double cropping by soil incorporation of 25–50% wheat residues with application of 69 kg N ha^?1.     

Tillage and N application effects on crop yield,N uptake and soil properties in a corn-based rotation

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of tillage methods (conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT)) and N rates (0, 50, 150, 250 kg N ha^?1) on crop yield, N uptake and soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density (BD), total N (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), pH and soil nutrient contents on a clay-loam near Hashtgerd, Iran. A successive corn-based rotation (2012–2014) was conducted as a split-plot in a randomized complete block design in which tillage methods were considered as main plots, and N rates as subplots. Tillage had no significant effect on corn 2012 and canola 2012–2013 grain yields. CT and MT systems showed different critical N rates to reach their maximum grain yield in corn (2013) and wheat (2013–2014). MT system required more N application to reach its maximum grain yield. Tillage × N rate effect on none of the soil properties was significant. Tillage had no significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on soil pH, BD, TN and SOC. However, soil EC of 0–5 cm depth in MT system was higher than CT system by 64%. MT system under higher N application could increase corn grain yield, but on the other hand probably adversely changes soil chemical properties.     

Soil C and N dynamics and maize (Zea may L.) yield as affected by cropping systems and residue management in North-western Pakistan

This paper presents the results of irrigated rotation experiment, conducted in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, during 1999–2002 to evaluate effects of residues retention, fertilizer N and legumes in crop rotation on yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and soil organic fertility. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L) were grown in the winters and mungbean (Vigna radiata) and maize in the summers. Immediately after grain harvest, above-ground residues of all crops were either completely removed (−residue), or spread across the plots and incorporated by chisel plough by disc harrow and rotavator (+residue). Fertlizer N rates were nil or 120 kg ha⁻¹ for wheat and nil or 160 kg ha⁻¹ for maize. Our results indicated that post-harvest incorporation of crop residues significantly (p < 0.05) increased the grain and stover yields of maize during both 2000 and 2001. On average, grain yield was increased by 23.7% and stover yield by 26.7% due to residue incorporation. Residue retention also enhanced N uptake by 28.3% in grain and 45.1% in stover of maize. The soil N fertility was improved by 29.2% due to residue retention. The maize grain and stover yields also responded significantly to the previous legume (chickpea) compared with the previous cereal (wheat) treatment. The legume treatment boosted grain yield of maize by 112% and stover yield by 133% with 64.4% increase in soil N fertility. Similarly, fertilizer N applied to previous wheat showed considerable carry over effect on grain (8.9%) and stover (40.7%) yields of the following maize. Application of fertilizer N to current maize substantially increased grain yield of maize by 110%, stover yield by 167% and soil N fertility by 9.8% over the nil N fertilizer treatment. We concluded from these experiments that returning of crop residues, application of fertilizer N and involvement of legumes in crop rotation greatly improves the N economy of the cropping systems and enhances crop productivity through additional N and other benefits in low N soils. The farmers who traditionally remove residues for fodder and fuel will require demonstration of the relative benefits of residues return to soil for sustainable crop productivity.     

Evaluation of assimilate remobilization and yield of wheat cultivars under different irrigation regimes in an arid climate

To investigate the effects of irrigation regimes on assimilate remobilization, water use efficiency (WUE), relative water content (RWC), photosynthesis and yield of five wheat cultivars, a field experiment was conducted at Shiraz University during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. The experimental design was a randomized complete block and treatments were arranged as split-plot in three replicates. There were four levels of water regime including well-watered [irrigation based on 100% field capacity (FC)], excess watered (125% FC), mild drought (75% FC) and severe drought (50% FC) stress, and four bread wheat cultivars (Shiraz, Bahar, Pishtaz and Sistan) and a durum wheat (Yavaros). In all cultivars, progressed leaf senescence at 30 days after anthesis (DAA), was associated with a reduction in chlorophyll content. The reduction was more pronounced in Shiraz and Yavaros than Pishtaz and Sistan. With increasing temperature and remobilization of assimilate to grain, net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were decreased significantly at 18 DAA compared with 8 DAA. Sistan and Pishtaz cultivars maintained higher RWC than sensitive cultivars of Shiraz and Yavaros under drought stress. The higher WUE in Pishtaz and Sistan was attributed to the effectiveness of a small amount of water in alleviating severe stress during the sensitive stages of growth. Under mild drought stress, controlled soil drying could enhance remobilization efficiency of assimilates in Pishtaz and Sistan and under severe drought, these cultivars had the highest grain yield compared with the other cultivars. Reduction of assimilates remobilization to the grain and 1000-grain weight, caused lower grain yield in Shiraz under severe drought. Overall, controlled soil drying in Sistan and Pishtaz might result in better mobilization of pre-stored assimilates to the grain in arid areas, where a rapid depletion of water resources is threatening crop production.     

Evaluation of Water Schemes for Maize Under Arid area in Iran Using the SWAP Model

In this study, the agro-hydrological SWAP model was employed for simulation of grain yield, biomass, evapotranspiration (ET), soil water balance components, and water productivity for maize in Shiraz, Iran. The results showed that the irrigation regime is an important factor effecting on the yield and biomass. In general, the model slightly overestimates the yield, biomass, and leaf area index (LAI) for all irrigation treatments. Statistic criteria for the evaluation of the model such as the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean error (ME) were for grain yield (772 kg ha^?1, ?9.6), biomass (265.6 Mg ha^?1, ?1.5), and evapotranspiration (ET) (25.1 mm, ?6). The amount of water productivity for maize based on I, P, T, and ET were in the range of 1.74 to 3.22 kgm^?3. The results indicated that, in general, the SWAP model was an appropriate tool for simulation of grain yield, biomass, and ET with an acceptable precision. The optimization of irrigation management is made to determine the maximum rate of water productivity (WP). The amounts of WP for maize were in the range of 1.74 to 3.22 kgm^?3 based on irrigation (I), precipitation (P), transpiration (T), and ET. The results showed that 500 mm of irrigation depth, water productivity is the highest. Therefore, irrigation management can improve WP and thus the impact of limited water can be reduced.     

绿洲灌区小麦免耕秸秆还田对后作玉米产量性能指标的影响

产量性能是决定作物生长发育和产量形成的关键因素,研究前茬秸秆处理方式对后茬作物产量性能指标的影响,对于建立高效种植制度、优化栽培措施具有重要指导意义。2009—2012年,在甘肃河西绿洲灌区,通过田间定位试验,研究了前茬小麦不同秸秆还田和耕作措施(NTSS:25 cm高茬收割立茬免耕;NTS:25 cm高茬等量秸秆覆盖免耕;TIS:25 cm高茬等量秸秆翻耕;CT:不留茬翻耕对照)对后作玉米产量性能指标的影响,以期为优化试区玉米种植模式提供依据。结果表明,与CT相比,前茬小麦秸秆还田降低了后作玉米大喇叭口期之前的叶面积指数(LAI)与光合势(LAD),但增大了吐丝期之后的LAI与LAD,延缓了衰老,以NTSS、NTS延缓衰老作用突出;NTSS、NTS和TIS处理玉米全生育期的平均叶面积指数(MLAI)比CT分别提高12.8%、19.1%和7.0%,总光合势分别提高12.9%、18.6%和6.8%,免耕秸秆还田(NTSS和NTS)提高MLAI和LAD的效果最好。免耕秸秆还田提高了玉米全生育期的平均净同化率(MNAR),以NTSS提高作用明显,较CT高10.7%;但净同化率(NAR)表现为吐丝期之前增大,吐丝期之后降低。NTSS、NTS提高了后作玉米的籽粒产量,比CT分别高13.0%、15.6%,TIS比CT提高7.9%,NTS增产效应最大。不同秸秆还田及耕作方式下,玉米籽粒产量与MLAI、穗数(EN)、穗粒数(KNE)呈极显著正相关性,与收获指数(HI)呈显著正相关性,但与MNAR无显著相关性。MLAI、EN、KNE增加、HI提高是前茬小麦免耕秸秆还田提高后作玉米产量的主要原因。前茬秸秆免耕还田优化后茬玉米主要产量性能指标的效果最好。因此,前茬小麦25 cm秸秆覆盖免耕还田是绿洲灌区优化后作玉米产量性能指标及获得高产的可行栽培措施。     

Effect of nitrogen and wheat residue on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and weed control

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues and nitrogen (N) management are the major problems in the southern part of Iran where irrigated wheat–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat rotation is a common practice. A 2-year (2009–2011) field experiment was conducted as a split plot design with four replications at a cotton field (Darab), Fars Province, Iran, to determine the influence of different rates of wheat residue (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) incorporation and N rates (150, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha^?1) on weed suppression, yield, and yield components of cotton. Results showed that a higher residue incorporation and a lower N rate improved weed suppression in both years. For treatments receiving 150 kg N ha^?1 and 75% of wheat residues (2250 kg ha^?1), weed biomass and density were significantly lower compared to treatments receiving 400 kg N ha^?1. The highest cotton lint yield (about 2400–2700 kg ha^?1) was obtained by 300 kg N ha^?1 in the absence of residue application, in both years. Incorporation of 25% of wheat residue (750 kg ha^?1) and application of 300 kg N ha^?1 are recommended to guarantee an optimum level of cotton lint yield and weed suppression in a wheat–cotton–wheat rotation in this region.     

Prediction of tillage operation strategies for dryland wheat production in a degraded loess soil

Conservation tillage systems are advocated worldwide for sustainable crop production; however, their favorable effects on soil properties are subject to the length of their use. The following study aimed at using the CENTURY agroecosystem model to simulate long-term changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Tillage systems include conventional tillage (CT, control), minimum tillage, chisel plow (CP) and zero tillage with (R⁺) and without residues (R^?) in fallow-wheat system. The model validation with 2-year field experiment showed that the simulated results were strongly correlated with observed results for total organic carbon (r² = 0.94), active soil carbon (r² = 0.91), slow soil carbon (r² = 0.84) and passive soil carbon (r² = 0.85). Similarly, model simulations for biomass and grain yields were, respectively, 81% and 76% correlated with observed results. The long-term simulations predicted that SOC stock and its fractions will gradually build up, crop biomass and grain yield will enhance with crop residue retention, especially under chisel plough in comparison of existing CT system. The study concludes that CP and retention of crop residues have potential to improve SOC contents and ultimately crop production.     

Dissolved and Soil Organic Carbon after Long‐Term Conventional and No‐Tillage Sorghum Cropping

Abstract

Distribution of dissolved (DOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) with depth may indicate soil and crop‐management effects on subsurface soil C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to investigate impacts of conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), and cropping sequence on the depth distribution of DOC, SOC, and total nitrogen (N) for a silty clay loam soil after 20 years of continuous sorghum cropping. Conventional tillage consisted of disking, chiseling, ridging, and residue incorporation into soil, while residues remained on the soil surface for NT. Soil was sampled from six depth intervals ranging from 0 to 105 cm. Tillage effects on DOC and total N were primarily observed at 0–5 cm, whereas cropping sequence effects were observed to 55 cm. Soil organic carbon (C) was higher under NT than CT at 0–5 cm but higher under CT for subsurface soils. Dissolved organic C, SOC, and total N were 37, 36, and 66%, respectively, greater under NT than CT at 0–5 cm, and 171, 659, and 837% greater at 0–5 than 80–105 cm. The DOC decreased with each depth increment and averaged 18% higher under a sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation than a continuous sorghum monoculture. Both SOC and total N were higher for sorghum–wheat–soybean than continuous sorghum from 0–55 cm. Conventional tillage increased SOC and DOC in subsurface soils for intensive crop rotations, indicating that assessment of C in subsurface soils may be important for determining effects of tillage practices and crop rotations on soil C sequestration.     

玉米免耕留膜可减少后茬轮作春小麦水氮用量

【目的】河西绿洲灌区玉米普遍采用地膜覆盖措施,其收获后地膜的完整率仍高达70%。研究后茬小麦继续利用该地膜条件下相适应的水氮耦合管理,以期最大化发挥农资的效益,提高小麦产量和氮肥利用率。【方法】2016—2017年度,在甘肃河西绿洲灌区玉米–小麦轮作田进行三因素裂区田间试验。选择头茬玉米进行免耕 (NT) 和传统耕作 (CT) 的田块,在后茬小麦播种时,保留免耕玉米的覆盖地膜,免耕进行小麦播种,而在传统耕作玉米地块,清理残膜,粉碎后翻入土壤中。在两种耕作处理方式下,设传统灌水减量20% (1920 m3/hm2,I1) 和传统灌水量2400 m3/hm2 (I2) 两个灌溉处理,传统施氮减量40% (135 kg/hm2,N1)、传统施氮减量20% (180 kg/hm2,N2) 与传统施氮225 kg/hm2 (N3) 三个施氮水平,组成12个处理。从春小麦出苗20 d后,每15 d采集植株样,测定各器官含氮量,计算营养器官的氮素转运量、转运率、营养器官氮素转运对籽粒贡献率及氮素收获指数。【结果】与传统耕作相比,免耕留膜各处理显著提高了春小麦地上部氮素累积量,两年提高10.9%～14.2%。灌水减量20%+施氮减量20%处理提高了春小麦地上部氮素累积量,较传统耕作、灌水与施氮处理提高4.3%～6.1%。免耕较传统耕作提高了春小麦叶、茎营养器官氮素向穗部的转运量、转运率及对籽粒的贡献率,以免耕同步集成减量20%灌水+减量20%施氮 (NTI1N2) 处理提高幅度较大,较灌水减量20%+施氮减量40% (CTI1N3) 处理叶、茎氮素向穗部的转运量分别提高31.9%～45.7%与54.5%～61.5%,转运率分别提高15.5%～16.3%与20.8%～23.1%,对籽粒的贡献率分别提高13.3%～29.0%与26.4%～36.7%。NTI1N2处理可获得较高籽粒产量与氮素收获指数,较CTI2N3处理分别提高15.2%～22.0%与7.6%～10.0%。【结论】在玉米–小麦轮作体系下,前茬免耕玉米覆盖的地膜对后茬小麦生长依然有显著效果。而且,此时减少20%的常规灌水量和常规施氮量,可以获得更高的产量和氮肥利用率。因此,在河西绿洲灌区小麦–玉米轮作体系中,应推广玉米收获后采用免耕,并在后茬小麦继续使用覆盖的地膜,同时减少20%的灌水量和氮肥施用量。     

环渤海低平原农田多水源高效利用机理和技术研究

淡水资源严重匮乏是影响环渤海低平原粮食生产可持续发展的重要限制因素。本文针对该区粮食生产中水分利用效率低、提升潜力巨大,同时该区浅层微咸水资源和降水资源较丰富的现状,以中国科学院南皮生态农业试验站最近3年试验研究结果为基础,综述了在挖掘咸水利用潜力、提高雨水和灌溉水利用效率方面研究工作进展。针对冬小麦夏玉米一年两作种植,研究结果显示品种间产量和水分利用效率(WUE)差异显著,最高和最低品种差异达20%左右,通过选用节水高产品种可显著提升产量和WUE;冬小麦通过拔节期灌溉关键水,在促进地上部生物量积累同时,显著促进地下根系生长,使冬小麦充分利用土壤储水,实现限水灌溉下稳产高效;夏玉米通过缩小行距增大株距的缩行匀播,可提升夏玉米苗期单株作物根系所占土壤体积空间,增加水分养分对作物的有效性,提高夏玉米成苗率和苗期所截获辐射量,比常规种植产量提高10%左右;冬小麦在拔节期利用含盐量不大于4 g×L~(-1)的浅层微咸水替代淡水灌溉,产量与淡水灌溉相同;浅层微咸水替代淡水灌溉并配套土壤有机质提升技术和利用夏季降水淋盐,可实现微咸水灌溉下周年土壤盐分平衡。通过上述措施实施,实现以咸补淡、以淡调盐、多水源互补高效利用,在不影响作物产量条件下可节约深层淡水资源,促进区域灌溉农业可持续发展。     

稻麦两熟条件下不同土壤耕作方式与秸秆还田效用分析

该文通过大田小区和网室水泥池微区的3年定位试验,比较研究了稻麦两熟条件下免耕秸秆覆盖、免耕高茬、翻耕秸秆还田(秸秆稻季翻埋麦季覆盖)、翻耕(对照,CK)4个处理对土壤理化性质和稻麦产量的影响,从土壤管理技术方面探讨了不同耕作方法与秸秆直接还田在稻麦两熟地区的应用效果。结果表明：免耕使土壤容重和穿透阻力增加,而秸秆还田可改善土壤结构,提高土壤养分含量,翻耕还田3年后土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾含量比对照分别增加4.7%～13.0%、0%～10.6%、0.2%～10.6%、8.4%～15.5%。麦季秸秆还田的产量有增有减,实际产量免耕覆盖还田略低,对照的产量较高,秸秆还田平均减产1%左右;而水稻翻耕秸秆还田的产量最高,比对照平均增产3%左右。因此,在稻麦两熟条件下,从省工节本和提高地力角度可采用稻麦免耕秸秆覆盖与留高茬还田,从提高产量和地力角度宜采用稻季翻耕秸秆还田。     

耕作方式对华北冬小麦.夏玉米周年产量和水分利用的影响

在冬小麦季设置秸秆不还田翻耕(CT)、秸秆还田翻耕(CTS)、秸秆还田旋耕(RTS)和免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)4种处理,研究耕作方式对华北小麦-玉米两熟区作物周年产量和水分利用的影响。结果表明:耕作方式对当季冬小麦产量和水分利用影响显著,对夏玉米产量和水分利用影响不大,但秸秆还田提高了夏玉米产量。RTS、CTS、CT 3个处理小麦季产量差异不显著,而NTS由于有效穗数不足,产量显著低于其他处理;与CT相比,NTS周年产量平均减产5.13%,RTS增产2.69%,CTS增产2.33%。耕作方式对当季小麦土壤水分含量影响大,而对后茬夏玉米土壤水分含量的影响较小。NTS提高了小麦季土壤水分含量,增加了土壤储水量,与CT相比,0~60 cm土壤储水量2010年和2011年分别增加39.07 mm和26.65 mm。从耗水构成来看,土壤水在冬小麦耗水中所占比例最大,其次为灌水和降水;而夏玉米耗水以降水为主,且降水中有一部分转化为土壤水储存起来。NTS提高了冬小麦季土壤储水量,降低了土壤水分的消耗,冬小麦季耗水最少。与CT相比,NTS小麦季平均节水22.40 mm,周年耗水量也以NTS最少;但NTS冬小麦产量降低导致其小麦季和周年水分利用效率均最低。从作物周年产量和水分利用的角度来看,如何提高免耕秸秆覆盖小麦季产量,进而提高周年产量,发挥其节水优势,是该耕作模式在华北地区冬小麦?夏玉米两熟区推广应用亟需解决的关键问题。     

Soil properties,crop productivity and energetics under different tillage practices in fodder sorghum + cowpea – wheat cropping system

Tillage is an important agricultural operation which influences soil properties, crop yield and environment. Nine combinations of three tillage practices including conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and zero tillage (ZT) were evaluated in fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) + cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) – wheat (Triticum durum) cropping system for 5 years (2009–2014) on clay loam soil under limited irrigation. Continuous ZT practices significantly improved surface soil organic carbon, bulk density, infiltration rate and maximum water holding capacity. Carbon sequestration rate, soil organic carbon stock and soil enzymatic activities were relatively more under ZT than CT-CT practice. Higher fodder yield of sorghum + cowpea was recorded with CT (kharif) while wheat grain yield with ZT (rabi). However, the system productivity was statistically similar in all the tillage treatments on pooled data basis. The economic benefits were also maximum under ZT-ZT practice. The ZT-ZT practice recorded significantly lowest energy input (17.1 GJ ha^?1) which resulted in highest energy use efficiency (13.6) and energy productivity (518 kg GJ^?1). Thus, adoption of ZT significantly improved soil health, stabilized crop yield, increased profitability and energy use efficiency in the semi-arid agro-ecosystem.     

Maize productivity and soil carbon storage as influenced by wheat residue management

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) residue removed, burnt, or incorporated with or without 0, 60, and 120 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1 effects on maize (Zea mays L) hybrids (Pioneer-3025, Pioneer-30P45, and Kiramat) were assessed at University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2010 and 2011 for maize production and soil carbon (C) storage. Pioneer-30P45 had higher grain yield, leaf area, and delayed maturity. Residue burning combined with 120 kg N ha^?1 produced higher grain yield. The leaf area, leaf area ratio, grain N content, and solar radiation interception were improved with N + residue burnt/incorporated over control. The grain yield was positively correlated with yield parameters. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content were in order of incorporated > burnt > removed at all growth stages (i.e., sowing, tasseling, maturity, and harvesting). Conclusively, wheat residue burnt/incorporated into the soil with 120 kg N ha^?1 was best for maize production of Pioneer-30P45; however residue incorporation into the soil improved SOC.     

Influence of crop residue management, cropping system and N fertilizer on soil N and C dynamics and sustainable wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production

Management of N is the key for sustainable and profitable wheat production in a low N soil. We report results of irrigated crop rotation experiment, conducted in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, during 1999–2002 to evaluate effects of residue retention, fertilizer N application and mung bean (Vigna radiata) on crop and N yields of wheat and soil organic fertility in a mung bean–wheat sequence. Treatments were (a) crop residue retained (+residue) or (b) removed (−residue), (c) 120 kg N ha⁻¹ applied to wheat, (d) 160 kg N ha⁻¹ to maize or (e) no nitrogen applied. The cropping system was rotation of wheat with maize or wheat with mung bean. The experiment was laid out in a spit plot design. Postharvest incorporation of crop residues significantly (p < 0.05) increased the grain and straw yields of wheat during both years. On average, crop residues incorporation increased the wheat grain yield by 1.31 times and straw yield by 1.39 times. The wheat crop also responded strongly to the previous legume (mung bean) in terms of enhanced grain yield by 2.09 times and straw yield by 2.16 times over the previous cereal (maize) treatment. Application of fertilizer N to previous maize exerted strong carry over effect on grain (1.32 times) and straw yield (1.38 times) of the following wheat. Application of N fertilizer to current wheat produced on average 1.59 times more grain and 1.77 times more straw yield over the 0 N kg ha⁻¹ treatment. The N uptake in wheat grain and straw was increased 1.31 and 1.64 times by residues treatment, 2.08 and 2.49 times by mung bean and 1.71 and 1.86 times by fertilizer N applied to wheat, respectively. The soil mineral N was increased 1.23 times by residues, 1.34 times by mung bean and 2.49 times by the application of fertilizer N to wheat. Similarly, the soil organic C was increased 1.04-fold by residues, 1.08 times by mung bean and 1.00 times by the application of fertilizer N. We concluded that retention of residues, application of fertilizer N and involvement of legumes in crop rotation greatly improves the N economy of the cropping system and enhances crop productivity in low N soils.     

轮耕对渭北旱塬春玉米田土壤理化性状和产量的影响

为了揭示不同轮耕处理对渭北旱塬春玉米田土壤理化性状及春玉米产量的影响,于2008—2010年在陕西合阳设置了免耕深松免耕(NT/ST/NT)、深松翻耕深松(ST/CT/ST)、翻耕免耕翻耕(CT/NT/CT)、免耕免耕免耕(NT/NT/NT)、深松深松深松(ST/ST/ST)和翻耕翻耕翻耕(CT/CT/CT)6种轮耕模式,测定和分析了各轮耕处理下土壤容重、土壤养分与玉米产量差异。结果表明:(1)各轮耕处理降低了土壤容重,提高了土壤孔隙度,增加了田间持水量,且以NT/ST/NT处理效果最佳;与对照CT/CT/CT相比,NT/ST/NT处理0～20cm和20～40 cm土层土壤容重分别降低11.43%和9.79%,土壤孔隙度分别增加11.05%和9.87%。(2)NT/ST/NT处理对耕层0～20 cm土层土壤有机质和全氮含量影响显著(P<0.05),0～60 cm土层土壤有机质平均含量最高(10.36 g.kg 1),土壤全氮含量平均值比试验开始前和对照CT/CT/CT分别提高10.65%和4.31%;各耕作处理对0～20 cm土层土壤全氮和碱解氮含量影响较大,而对20～40 cm土层土壤有效磷和速效钾含量影响较大,保护性轮耕处理对土壤培肥效应显著(P<0.05)高于传统翻耕处理。(3)NT/ST/NT、ST/CT/ST、CT/NT/CT、NT/NT/NT和ST/ST/ST处理产量比对照CT/CT/CT处理分别增产22.42%、16.33%、3.77%、9.91%和14.18%(P<0.05),以NT/ST/NT处理春玉米增产率最高。