It was to investigate the effects of mulch cover and stubble tillage on soil water content and to assess grounds of recommendations in stubble management in an extreme dry period. Tests were carried out in undisturbed (U) soil, after shallow (S) and deep (D) tillage, soil with (UCO, SCO, DCO) and without surface cover (UCL, SCL, DCL) and after conventional stubble treatment (STR). Effective moisture conservation (8-11%) was observed in undisturbed soil under 55% and 65% cover ratios. The water content in the top 0.65 m soil layer increased significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) between the different stubble variants, the following order was established on day 85: DCL < STR < SCL < UCL < DCO < SCO < UCO. The conventional stubble management cannot be applied in soils after shallow (STR) or deep tillage (DCL) in a dry season, when the loss of water is even statistically proven. Leaving the soil without a cover (UCL) or having it with insufficient cover (< 15%) entails risks in soils. Increasing the soil cover ratio (from 5% to 75%) had a 1.3-2.3 times stronger impact on crumb forming than did the moisture recorded in the various seasons.
A new approach is needed in soil tillage practice. The important achievements of this are the recognition of the risk – poor tillage practices, poor soil quality, soil state defects, and climate extremes etc. – the need for the development of risk reduction, prevention, remediation and maintenance of the favorable soil state. In this paper 13 main soil state defects are listed, to which the prevention and improving tasks are also commented. In the second part of the paper the most important soil tillage tasks are summarized in 30 sections and realization of these points may promote the implementation of precision plant production.
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