Conservation Tillage Improves Soil Quality and Crop Yield in Hungary

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the progress of tillage in Hungary. The local and international impacts on the national practice are summarized, and some adoption of the conservation tillage results is presented concerning Hungary. The interest in conservation agriculture in Hungary dates back almost 120 years; however, any significant changes only occurred in the last 50 years. Interestingly, the factors of progress and restraint in tillage have appeared simultaneously over the years. Among the factors restraining tillage progress, the most retarding were the beliefs that have existed for many decades, as soil conservation was not considered nor was the need to mitigate climate-related hazards. Progress was driven by the commitment to soil protection, the opportunity to raise farming standards, and the need to mitigate climate-related threats. Since the average yield in Hungary was usually sufficient for the domestic need, the main objective of crop production was to avoid yield loss. Long-term experimental data and monitoring results were considered for this study. The impacts of new tillage solutions, elaborated in foreign countries, on tillage modernization were reviewed. The experiences and first results in no-till (direct drilling) and strip-tillage showed that difficulties can gradually be reduced through site-specific technology solutions. The need for subsoiling is not a matter of debate nowadays but rather the timing of operation and the investigation of the duration of the effects. Due to its complex advantages, tine tillage occupies an increasing rank among soil conservation systems. The area of ploughed soils has decreased; however, improved implementation is required.

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“…According to G.P. Kovács et al (2023), proper tillage improves soil structure and ensures the availability of nutrients for plants. This can have a positive impact on the development of maize, as it provides important conditions for its growth and the formation of a quality crop.…”

Conservation Tillage in Medicinal Plant Cultivation in China: What, Why, and How

“…In order to create organic mulch that supported and fixed lily plants, kept a specific amount of water and breathability, and gave nutrients for lily growth and development, 1% superphosphate and 2% quicklime were added, and a composting fermentation of 2-3 months was carried out. The experiences and preliminary results of Hungary in NT (direct drilling) and striptillage (a kind of RT) suggest that the difficulties of new tillage modes can gradually be reduced through site-specific technology solutions [90]. The necessity of subsoiling (deep loosening; ST) is beyond doubt, although the timing of operation and duration of effects should be investigated in detail.…”

The Impact of Tillage and Crop Residue Incorporation Systems on Agrophysical Soil Properties

“…Direct drilling is associated with higher soil hardness compared with deep and shallow ploughing. Immediately after sowing, the topsoil (0-10 cm) exhibits similar hardness in both shallow ploughing and deep ploughing treatments, while directly drilled soil shows 49-54% higher hardness [9].…”