Tillage Strategy and Nitrogen Fertilization Methods Influences on Selected Soil Quality Indicators and Spring Wheat Yield under Semi-Arid Environmental Conditions of the Loess Plateau, China

Abstract

The influence of tillage and nitrogen fertilization methods on soil quality attributes and crop agronomic characteristics has been studied broadly under different agroclimatic conditions. Nevertheless, the interactive effect of tillage and fertilization approaches on soil properties on different soil depths and yield is rarely addressed, particularly on the Loess Plateau belt, and requires more exploration. Thus, this research was conducted in order to evaluate the interactive impact of tillage and nitrogen fertilization methods on soil properties and wheat productivity. The treatments included conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) with different fertilization approaches (no fertilization: CK, chemical nitrogen fertilizer: N, organic fertilizer: M, combined application of nitrogen fertilizer and organic fertilizer: NM) and were explored in a split plot arrangement under a randomized complete block design replicated thrice on soil properties (SWC, SOC, TN, TP, NO3−-N, NH4+-N, and stoichiometric ratio) and wheat yield. The results showed that sole no-tillage and NT in association with nitrogen fertilization (inorganic and organic) significantly increased the soil water content, SOC, TN, NH4+-N, C/P, and N/P ratios and wheat productivity but did not significantly yield TP, whilst it reduced the NO3−-N and C/N ratio compared with sole CT and CT together with nitrogen fertilization (organic and inorganic). Overall, NT in association with the joint application of inorganic and organic N fertilization are the best techniques to improve soil water status and nutrient status under the wheat mono-cropping system conditions and yield.

Soil chemical properties and wheat yields under different tillage and nitrogen rates in eastern Oregon

“…and the soil surface (Godsey et al., 2007; Limousin & Tessier, 2007; Robbins & Voss, 1991; Tarkalson et al., 2006; Wright et al., 2007). In semi‐arid soils with winter dominated rainfall, nutrient stratification may reduce root accessibility and uptake of nutrients, affecting crop yield potential (Ma et al., 2009; Yuan et al., 2022). Stratification of soil acidity exacerbates nutrient availability for plants because soil pH primarily controls the solubility of nutrients (Duiker & Beegle, 2006; Lindsay, 1979).…”

Widely untargeted metabolomic profiling unearths metabolites and pathways involved in leaf senescence and N remobilization in spring-cultivated wheat under different N regimes

“…Furthermore, plants tend to maintain nitrogen homeostasis for as long as possible through a variety of adaptation mechanisms, such as increased uptake of N, altered mobilization patterns, decreased growth, and the ability to maintain metabolite concentrations under abiotic stress conditions, as demonstrated for Arabidopsis under N-depletion ( Heyneke et al., 2017 ). This makes studying leaf senescence after anthesis a prerequisite to understanding the physiological and genetic basis of photosynthesis, nutrient remobilization, and the rules of crop yield and quality of great value to the practice of crop improvement ( Yuan et al., 2022 ). With the above in mind, the present study applied widely untargeted metabolomic profiling to uncover metabolites that may be involved in leaf senescence and N remobilization with three levels of N fertilization regimes (no, low, and high N).…”

The use of resource-saving technologies in crop production

“…In modern studies [2][3][4], resource conservation is considered as a set of measures aimed at the conservation use of raw materials, materials, energy, labor and other resources necessary for the implementation of production activities. The problem of using resource-saving technologies in domestic production is expressed by high labor costs.…”