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

Abstract

A long-term field experiment has been ongoing since 1999 at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University’s Agriculture Academy. According to the latest edition of the International Soil Classification System, the soil in the experimental field can be classified as Planosol, with a silty medium-loam texture at a depth of 0–20 cm and a silty light-loam texture at a depth of 20–40 cm. Studies were carried out on winter wheat crops in 2014, 2017, and 2023. This research aimed to assess how different long-term tillage systems impact soil shear strength and aggregate stability, their interconnection, and the effect of crop residues on soil stability. The treatments were arranged using a split-plot design. In a two-factor field experiment, straw was removed from one part of the experimental field, while the entire straw yield was chopped and spread at harvest in the other part (Factor A). The subplot factor (Factor B) included three different tillage systems: conventional deep ploughing, cover cropping for green manure with no tillage, and no tillage. The soil samples were analyzed at the Laboratory of Agrobiology at Vytautas Magnus University’s Agriculture Academy. The findings indicated that the long-term application of reduced tillage significantly increased the soil shear strength. Shallower tillage depths led to a higher soil shear strength, while the effect of spreading plant residues was relatively lower. The long-term tillage of different intensities, spreading plant residues, and catch crop cultivation for green manure did not significantly affect the soil structure. However, the soil structural stability was found to be highly dependent on soil tillage. Cover cropping for green manure with no tillage and no tillage alone positively affected the soil aggregate stability in the upper 0–10 cm and 10–25 cm layers. The correlation–regression analysis showed that, in the top 0–10 cm and 10–25 soil layers, there were moderate to strong correlations between the soil structural stability, soil shear strength, and the effect of crop residues on soil stability.

Long-Term Effects of Different Tillage Systems and Their Impact on Soil Properties and Crop Yields

“…This analysis underscores the importance of considering both climatic variations and their interactions with soil properties in understanding agricultural system dynamics and responses to changing weather patterns [32]. In addition, this comprehensive review is critical for assessing the impacts of climatic variability on agricultural productivity and sustainability.…”

Long-Term Effects of Different Tillage Systems and Their Impacts on Soil Properties and Crop Yields

“…The analysis underscores the importance of considering both climatic variations and their interactions with soil properties in understanding agricultural system dynamics and responses to changing weather patterns [32]. This comprehensive view is critical for assessing the impacts of climatic variability on agricultural productivity and sustainability.…”

The Effect of Reduced Tillage, Straw, and Green Manure on Components of the Winter Oilseed Rape Agroecosystem

“…Soil degradation in Lithuania is occurring due to intensive agriculture and anthropogenic activities, which calls for new research. Soil potential, as well as crop productivity, depends directly on soil degradation and pollution, which determines soil organic matter and biodiversity (Bogužas et al, 2015, Steponavičienė et al, 2023.…”