Effects of Conservation Tillage on Soil Properties and Maize Yield in Karst Regions, Southwest China

Lizhen Bai, Xiangying Kong, Hui Li, Huibin Zhu (), Chengwu Wang and Shiao Ma
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Lizhen Bai: Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Xiangying Kong: Faculty of Architecture and City Planning, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Hui Li: Shandong Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Huibin Zhu: Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Chengwu Wang: Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Shiao Ma: Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Karst rocky desertification associated with human disturbance is one of the most serious eco-environmental problems, threatening the sustainable development of agriculture in southwestern China. In the current study, the practice of conservation tillage as one of the best ways of reducing the constraints is addressed. During a two-year trial (2014–2015), the effects of no tillage with straw cover (NT) and traditional tillage (TT) on soil properties and maize yields were investigated in karst regions, Southwest China. The results showed that the trial with NT increased soil moisture content by 3%, while decreasing soil bulk density by 7% in the top 30 cm compared with TT. In 2014, within 0–30 cm of soil depth, total nitrogen under NT treatment was 5% higher than that under TT treatment. In 2015, the mean soil organic matter (SOM) and available P were enhanced to 12% and 13% in 0–30 cm soil depth more than that under TT, respectively. The trial with NT significantly ( p < 0.05) increased available N in the top 20 cm by 9% as compared to TT. This improvement in soil physical and chemical properties might have increased the crop yield. After the two-year trial with NT, the mean maize yields increased by 11% compared with the TT trial. Therefore, conservation tillage is the better option considering long-term environmental sustainability in karst regions.

Keywords: karst rocky desertification; conservation tillage; no tillage; soil properties; maize yield; traditional tillage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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