The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield

Qiliang Hunag, Yingting Gong, Peiran Li, Ratih Kemala Dewi and Masakazu Komatsuzaki ()
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Qiliang Hunag: United Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
Yingting Gong: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510642, China
Peiran Li: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the PRC, Guangzhou 510655, China
Ratih Kemala Dewi: College of Vocational Studies, IPB University, Jl Kumbang No 14, Cilibende, Bogor, West Java 16151, Indonesia
Masakazu Komatsuzaki: College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Ami, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: Implementing management practices that minimize environmental impact while maintaining high crop yields is essential to achieve sustainable agricultural production. This study conducted a field trial within a soybean system to evaluate the responses of crop yield, residue decomposition, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, and soil total nitrogen (STN) stock to varying tillage [moldboard tillage (MP) vs. no-tillage (NT)] and cover crop [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth, HV) vs. rye (Secale cereal, RY)] management practices. The results showed no significant difference in soybean economic yield between MP and NT. However, NT demonstrated a higher SOC stock (0–30 cm), exceeding MP by 4.0% in 2020 and 8.2% in 2021. STN stock (0–30 cm) under NT also surpassed that of MP by 3.3% in 2020 and 3.6% in 2021. No significant differences were observed in soybean yield, SOC stock, and STN stock between HV and RY. Compared to NT, MP accelerated the decomposition of cover crop residues. Moreover, the decomposition of RY was more difficult than that of HV. These findings suggest that NT enhances soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration without compromising yield, positioning it as a sustainable practice for soybean systems, particularly when integrated with RY cover crops.

Keywords: conservation tillage; cover crop; soil organic carbon; soil total nitrogen; residue decomposition (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: 2024
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