Effects of Different Tillage Depths on Soil Physical Properties and the Growth and Yield of Tobacco in the Mountainous Chongqing Region of China

Qingli Xiao, Weihao Zhao, Chenyi Ju, Kui Peng, Ming Yuan, Qizhong Tan, Rong He () and Mingbin Huang ()
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Qingli Xiao: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Scientific Utilization of Tobacco Resources, Chongqing 400060, China
Weihao Zhao: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
Chenyi Ju: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China
Kui Peng: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Scientific Utilization of Tobacco Resources, Chongqing 400060, China
Ming Yuan: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Scientific Utilization of Tobacco Resources, Chongqing 400060, China
Qizhong Tan: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Scientific Utilization of Tobacco Resources, Chongqing 400060, China
Rong He: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Scientific Utilization of Tobacco Resources, Chongqing 400060, China
Mingbin Huang: College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) is the most important cash crop in the mountainous Chongqing region, where mini rotary tillers are widely used for land preparation. The decline in tobacco yields has been partially attributed to deteriorating soil physical properties and the formation of plough pans as a result of the repeated use of the mini rotary tiller. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different tillage depths on soil physical properties and the growth and yield of tobacco. Three tillage depths were evaluated: mini rotary tillage to 15 cm (T15) as a control, medium-deep tillage to 25 cm (T25), and deep tillage to 35 cm (T35). Total porosity, capillary porosity, and soil water content were measured for each treatment, and the root distribution, agronomical traits, and dry matter accumulation were monitored at different growing stages. Tobacco yield and output value were determined following the harvest. Compared to T15, T35 significantly increased total porosity and capillary porosity in the 10–40 cm soil layer and soil water content in the 0–40 cm soil layer, while T25 improved soil physical properties but not significantly. T35 significantly promoted dry matter accumulation and root, stem, and leaf growth compared to T15, while differences in some agronomic traits between T25 and T15 were not significant. Compared to T15, T35 and T25 increased the tobacco yield by 17.2–18.9% and 8.0–10.1%, respectively, and increased the output value by 44.4–46.4% and 29.2–32.6%, respectively. The results indicate that deep tillage improves soil physical properties, breaks plough pans, stimulates root growth, and increases tobacco yield and output value.

Keywords: mini rotary tiller; total porosity; capillary porosity; root distribution; agronomic traits; tobacco (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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