Effects of strip rotary tillage with subsoiling on soil enzyme activity, soil fertility, and wheat yield
Inappropriate tillage and soil compaction threaten farmland sustainability in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plains of China. We aimed to explore the impact of plowing tillage, rotary tillage, strip rotary tillage, and strip rotary tillage coupled to a two-year subsoiling interval (STS) on soil quality at various soil depths and on wheat yield. Soil bulk density was substantially lower in the 30–45 cm depth under STS than under any other treatment, resulting in lower soil penetration resistance. Highest soil particle macro-aggregation was observed under STS in the 15–45-cm soil layer. Consistently with greater nutrient availability, key enzymes associated with soil fertility (urease, invertase, phosphatase, and catalase) showed higher activity in STS plots. Concomitantly, highest yields were recorded for STS at 10 451 and 10 074 kg/ha in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016, respectively. STS significantly improved soil physical structure and enhanced soil enzyme activity, thereby stimulating soil nutrient release and increasing winter wheat yield.
De Vita P., Di Paolo E., Fecondo G., Di Fonzo N., Pisante M. (2007): No-tillage and conventional tillage effects on durum wheat yield, grain quality and soil moisture content in southern Italy. Soil and Tillage Research, 92: 69–78.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.01.012
Gajda A.M., Czyż E.A., Stanek-Tarkowska J., Dexter A.R., Furtak K.M., Grządziel J. (2017): Effects of long-term tillage practices on the quality of soil under winter wheat. Plant, Soil and Environment, 63: 236–242.
https://doi.org/10.17221/223/2017-PSE
Guo W., Andersen M.N., Qi X.B., Li P., Li Z.Y., Fan X.Y., Zhou Y. (2017): Effects of reclaimed water irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the chemical properties and microbial community of soil. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16: 679–690.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61391-6
He J., Li H.W., Wang X.Y., McHugh A.D., Li W.Y., Gao H.W., Kuhn N.J. (2007): The adoption of annual subsoiling as conservation tillage in dryland maize and wheat cultivation in northern China. Soil and Tillage Research, 94: 493–502.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.10.005
He J.N., Shi Y., Yu Z.W. (2019): Subsoiling improves soil physical and microbial properties, and increases yield of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. Soil and Tillage Research, 187: 182–193.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.12.011
Huang M., Zou Y.B., Jiang P., Xia B., Feng Y.H., Cheng Z.W., Mo Y.L. (2012): Effect of tillage on soil and crop properties of wet-seeded flooded rice. Field Crops Research, 129: 28–38.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2012.01.013
Kibet L.C., Blanco-Canqui H., Jasa P. (2016): Long-term tillage impacts on soil organic matter components and related properties on a Typic Argiudoll. Soil and Tillage Research, 155: 78–84.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.05.006
Kong F.L., Yuan J.C., Zhang H.L., Chen F. (2013): Effect of tillage practice on growth and development and yield of winter wheat in double cropping area in North China. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 39: 1612–1618.
https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1006.2013.01612
Man J.G., Shi Y., Yu Z.W., Zhang Y.L. (2015): Root growth, soil water variation, and grain yield response of winter wheat to supplemental irrigation. Plant Production Science, 19: 193–205.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1343943X.2015.1128097
Mbuthia L.W., Acosta-Martínez V., DeBruyn J., Schaeffer S., Tyler D., Odoi E., Mpheshea M., Walker F., Eash N. (2015): Long term tillage, cover crop, and fertilization effects on microbial community structure, activity: Implications for soil quality. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 89: 24–34.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.06.016
Mu X.Y., Zhao Y.L., Liu K., Ji B.Y., Guo H.B., Xue Z.W., Li C.H. (2016): Responses of soil properties, root growth and crop yield to tillage and crop residue management in a wheat-maize cropping system on the North China Plain. European Journal of Agronomy, 78: 32–43.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.04.010
Peigné J., Ball B.C., Roger-Estrade J., David C. (2007): Is conservation tillage suitable for organic farming? Soil Use and Management, 23: 129–144.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2006.00082.x
Ren C.J., Kang D., Wu J.P., Zhao F.Z., Yang G.H., Han X.H., Feng Y.Z., Ren G.X. (2016): Temporal variation in soil enzyme activities after afforestation in the Loess Plateau, China. Geoderma, 282: 103–111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.07.018
TerAvest D., Carpenter-Boggs L., Thierfelder C., Reganold J.P. (2015): Crop production and soil water management in conservation agriculture, no-till, and conventional tillage systems in Malawi. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 212: 285–296.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.07.011
Wang S.B., Guo L.L., Zhou P.C., Wang X.J., Shen Y., Han H.F., Ning T.Y., Han K. (2019): Effect of subsoiling depth on soil physical properties and summer maize (Zea mays L.) yield. Plant, Soil and Environment, 65: 131–137.
https://doi.org/10.17221/703/2018-PSE
Yin B.Z., Zhen W.C., Guo L.G. (2015): The soil ecological-environment characteristics in wheat growing season under different tillage treatments in Haihe Lowland Plain. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 29: 186–194.
