EFFECTS OF TILLAGE AND STRAW MANAGEMENT ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND CROP YIELD UNDER SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/eijaer.v12i2.134Keywords:
Tillage, Straw management, Soil aggregation, Soil quality, Crop yieldAbstract
The impact of different tillage and straw-management systems on soil structural properties, nutrient retention, soil quality and crop productivity under sustainable agricultural production was evaluated in this study. Five management systems were taken into consideration: bare soil, conventional tillage, no-till with straw mulching, trench-applied straw mulching and surface straw mulching. Water-stable aggregate distribution, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, percentage aggregate destruction, aggregate-associated SOC and soil N were water applied as indicators of soil response, along with soil quality index. Yields of peanut and rapeseed were also compared by treatments grown. In general, the straw-retaining systems had a better soil structure than that of bare soil and conventional tillage. The no-till system with straw mulching and surface straw mulching gave better aggregate stability and soil quality, and the trench-applied straw mulching improved the carbon and nitrogen contents in some aggregates. The peanut yield was significantly higher under all straw-management treatments than the peanut yield under the non-straw treatment; the peanut yield under surface straw mulching was the highest, while the peanut yield under trench-applied straw mulching was also the highest. The overall results of the reduced soil disturbance coupled with good straw return are positive on soil aggregation, soil nutrient content and crop productivity, which shows the benefit for sustainable and resilient agricultural production. The results highlight the practicality of integrated soil residue management as a soil restoration technique.
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