Soil—Plant Relationships in Soybean Cultivated under Conventional Tillage and Long-Term No-Tillage

Abstract

Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] have great economic prominence in the world, and soil management systems can directly interfere with their yield through changes in soil physical-hydric properties. Thus, the aim of this research was to verify the relationship between yield components, physiological traits, root development, and soil physical-hydric properties in soybean yields grown under conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, SP, Brazil, with two treatments: soybeans grown under conventional tillage and no tillage. It is a long-term experiment, conducted since 1986. The main variables that influenced soybean yield were plant height, relative leaf water content, root dry matter, soil penetration resistance, and soil accumulated water infiltration. Physiological components of the plant and soil water showed a significant and negative correlation with soybean yield. On the other hand, the root development and soil physical components were positively correlated with soybean yield. However, the yield components were not significant. The no-tillage system resulted in 7.8% more soybean productivity compared to conventional tillage. Soybean yield depends on the physical properties and the water storage capacity of the soil, as well as on the physiological traits and the root development of the plant.

Soil–Plant Relationships in Soybean Cultivated under Crop Rotation after 17 Years of No-Tillage and Occasional Chiseling

“…The higher PR, observed in the sunn hemp rotation system, did not affect the water infiltration in the soil thus contributing to greater water availability to plants. With a greater water supply, the plants did not need to develop roots in depth due to the water supply provided by the system, reducing the energy expenditure with root development and also contributing to the best water content in the plants [ 24 , 38 , 39 ]. Thus, rotation with sunn hemp in long-term NT was characterized as a production system less vulnerable to dry spells and drought.…”

“…Thus, the appropriate choice of species to use in a crop rotation system in NT can lead to greater water availability [ 8 , 24 ]. Understanding the dynamics of water in the soil becomes essential for correctly planning agricultural activities, with water being the factor that most affects crop yield [ 44 ].…”

“…There are several factors related to the water storage capacity in the soil and its availability to plants. However, one of the main factors is soil management, as it modifies the soil physical properties associated with the structure, such as water availability, aeration, and resistance to root growth, which are directly related to plant development [ 24 ].…”

“…In this way, knowing that the use of cover crops and soil chiseling affect soil structuring, and considering that soybean is one of the main agricultural crops susceptible to environmental conditions [ 23 ] and soil management [ 24 ], this research hypothesizes that the use of different cover crops in the crop rotation in long-term NT and soil chiseling can affect the physical-hydric properties of the soil, as well as the physiology of the plant, resulting in alteration in soybean development and yield.…”

No-Tillage System Can Improve Soybean Grain Production More Than Conventional Tillage System

“…Mondal and Chakraborty, via research with meta-analysis, confirmed that no-tillage practices contribute to soil structural development and an increase in water retention pores, even over a short-term period, however, they did not report the effects of these soil changes Plants 2023, 12, 3762 2 of 17 on the development of agricultural crops. Usually, in CT areas, the soil has a lower rate of water infiltration, lower water storage capacity, and lower water availability to plants, since it is a system with greater vulnerability to crops in periods of heavy rains or drought [6][7][8]. In this management system, the soil is frequently turned, modifying its physical and hydraulic properties in a short time, with the layer being frequently compacted between 0.10 and 0.20 m [9,10].…”