Effect of Zero and Minimum Tillage on Cotton Productivity and Soil Characteristics under Different Nitrogen Application Rates

Abstract

Long-term conservation tillage and straw incorporation are reported to improve the soil health, growth, and yield traits of crops; however, little is known regarding the optimal nitrogen (N) supply under conservation tillage with straw incorporation. The present study evaluated the effects of conservation tillage practices (ZTsas: zero tillage plus wheat straw on the soil surface as such, and MTsi: minimum tillage plus wheat straw incorporated) and different N application rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) on the yield and quality traits of cotton and soil characteristics in a five-year field experiment. The results showed that ZTsas produced a higher number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, 100-seed weight, ginning out-turn (GOT), fiber length, and strength than MTsi. Among different N application rates, the maximum number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, GOT, 100-seed weight, fiber length, strength, and micronaire were recorded at 150 kg N ha−1. Averaged over the years, tillage × N revealed that ZTsas had a higher boll number plant−1, boll weight, 100-seed weight, GOT, fiber length, and strength with N application at 150 kg ha−1, as compared to other tillage systems. Based on the statistical results, there is no significant difference in total soil N and soil organic matter among different N rates. Further, compared to MTsi, ZTsas recorded higher soil organic matter (SOM, 8%), total soil N (TSN, 29%), water-stable aggregates (WSA, 8%), and mean weight diameter (MWD, 28.5%), particularly when the N application of 150 kg ha−1. The fiber fineness showed that ZTsas had no adverse impact on fiber fineness compared with MTsi. These results indicate that ZTsas with 150 kg N ha−1 may be the optimum and most sustainable approach to improve cotton yield and soil quality in the wheat–cotton system.

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Coated With Zinc Improves the Productivity and Grain Quality of Rice Grown Under Anaerobic Conditions

“…Javed et al ( 2022b ) also reported that the application of various organic and inorganic compounds was responsible for improving nitrogen use efficiency. Khan et al ( 2021 ) stated that nitrogen application enhanced the growth and productivity of field crops and maintained the soil fertility status (Shah et al, 2021a ).…”

Impact of different levels of zinc and nitrogen on growth, productivity, and quality of aromatic rice cultivated under various irrigation regimes in two districts of Pakistan

“…Therefore, insufficient nitrogen intake has profound effects on food production. Some early researchers reported that the rate and timing of nitrogen application played an important role in improving the yield of rice and other field crops ( Habtergebrial et al, 2013 ; Khan et al, 2021 ). These authors found the highest yields (4–5-ton ha –1 ) of basmati rice and its components at 130–140 kg N ha –1 .…”

Nitrogen use efficiency in cotton: Challenges and opportunities against environmental constraints

“…It has been revealed that uptake of N by cotton was recorded significantly highest in ZT as compared to the CT. The adequate moisture content in ZT helped to restore high N in soil which led to improved uptake by cotton ( Khan et al, 2021 ). Similarly, the highest uptake of N, P, and K in cotton was recorded in ZT as compared to CT in the Akola region of Maharashtra ( Wagh et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Normally, farmers rely on the excessive application of N to enhance growth and crop yield ( Dong et al, 2012 ). Nevertheless, excessive rates of N not only outcomes in stagnant growth, prolonged crop maturity, and reduction in productivity, but also reduce NUE and environmental pollution ( Khan et al, 2021 ; Niu et al, 2021 ; Huang et al, 2022 ; Javed et al, 2022a , b ; Kumar et al, 2022 ; Wang et al, 2022 ).…”