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The Tradeoff between Maintaining Maize ( Zea mays L.) Productivity and Improving Soil Quality under Conservation Tillage Practice in Semi-Arid Region of Northeast China

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  • Nana Chen

    (College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
    Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Xin Zhao

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China)

  • Shuxian Dou

    (Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Aixing Deng

    (Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Chengyan Zheng

    (Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Tiehua Cao

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130033, China)

  • Zhenwei Song

    (Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Weijian Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

Abstract

Conservation tillage has received strong support globally to achieve food security and minimize environmental impacts. However, there are comprehensive debates on whether it can achieve the synergy between maintaining crop yields and improving soil quality. To this end, a field experiment under continuous maize ( Zea mays L.) cropping was conducted in northeast China. The treatment included rotary tillage with straw removal (CK, conventional tillage) and rotary tillage, subsoiling tillage, and no tillage with straw retention (CR, CS, and CN, respectively). Maize yield and a set of soil physio-chemical indicators in relation with soil quality were measured during 2017 to 2021. Results showed that CN significantly reduced the maize yield by 24.9%, 23.1%, and 19.5% on average compared to that with CR, CK, and CS treatments, respectively. CN and CS significantly increased the ratio of >2 mm soil aggregates and soil geometric mean diameter (GMD) in the 0–20 cm soil layer compared those of CK and CR treatments. However, CN and CS treatments had a higher soil bulk density and soil compaction in the 0–20 cm layer compared to those with CK and CR treatments. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the 0–20 cm layer under CN and CS were higher than those with CK by 5.1–15.0% and 8.5–15.7%, whereas soil NH 4 + was lower by 9.1–13.9% correspondingly. CN also reduced the soil temperature during the early-growth stage of maize. Importance analysis indicated that soil temperature, bulk density, and available nitrogen were the key factors affecting maize yield. Overall, no tillage with straw mulching could improve soil stability and soil fertility but reduced maize yield. Alternatively, minimum tillage (e.g., subsoiling tillage) with straw mulching might be a suitable practice as it maintains the maize yield and improves soil quality compared to those with conventional tillage practices in the semi-arid region of northeast China in the short term.

Suggested Citation

  • Nana Chen & Xin Zhao & Shuxian Dou & Aixing Deng & Chengyan Zheng & Tiehua Cao & Zhenwei Song & Weijian Zhang, 2023. "The Tradeoff between Maintaining Maize ( Zea mays L.) Productivity and Improving Soil Quality under Conservation Tillage Practice in Semi-Arid Region of Northeast China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:2:p:508-:d:1074894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adimassu, Zenebe & Alemu, Getachew & Tamene, Lulseged, 2019. "Effects of tillage and crop residue management on runoff, soil loss and crop yield in the Humid Highlands of Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 11-18.
    2. Cameron M. Pittelkow & Xinqiang Liang & Bruce A. Linquist & Kees Jan van Groenigen & Juhwan Lee & Mark E. Lundy & Natasja van Gestel & Johan Six & Rodney T. Venterea & Chris van Kessel, 2015. "Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 365-368, January.
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