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In Punjab, Pakistan, wheat production within the rice-wheat cropping system is frequently undermined by soil degradation and nutrient depletion, exacerbated by traditional agricultural practices. Addressing these challenges, this study evaluates the impact of green manuring and tillage practices on wheat productivity in rice-wheat cropping system, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The study examined twelve treatments combining green manuring (no green manuring, Sesbania, or Cluster bean) with rice cultivation methods (direct-seeded or transplanted) and tillage practices (zero or plough tillage). Wheat was sown following rice at a rate of 125 kg ha-1, with fertilizers applied in split applications. The analysis revealed significant differences across treatments. The highest number of fertile tillers (429 m-2 in 2020, 441 m2 in 2021) was recorded in Treatment 5 (Sesbania green manuring, direct-seeded rice, zero tillage wheat), while the lowest (322 m-2 in 2020, 329 m-2 in 2021) was in Treatment 4 (No green manuring, transplanted rice, plough tillage wheat). Similar trends were observed for spikelets per spike, grains per spike, and thousand grain weight, with Treatment 5 consistently performing the best. Biological yield was highest in Treatment 5 (13.12 t ha-1 in 2020, 13.42 t ha-1 in 2021), and grain yield peaked at 4.10 t ha-1 (2020) and 4.50 t ha-1 (2021) in Treatments 5 and 6. These findings underscore the benefits of integrating Sesbania green manuring with zero tillage and direct seeding of rice, significantly enhancing soil moisture retention and structure, which leads to improved wheat yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tillage practices can substantially affect soil properties depending on crop stage. The interaction between tillage and crop growth on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities remains unclear. We investigated the interactions between four tillage treatments (CT: conventional tillage, RT: reduced tillage, NT: no tillage with mulch, and SS: subsoiling with mulch), maintained for 25 years, and two wheat growth stages (elongation stage and grain filling stage) on AMF diversity and community composition. Results: The AMF community composition strongly changed during wheat growth, mainly because of changes in the relative abundance of dominant genera Claroideoglomus, Funneliformi, Rhizophagu, Entrophospora, and Glomus. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the grain filling stage had a more complex network than the elongation stage. Redundancy analysis results showed that keystone genera respond mainly to changes in soil organic carbon during elongation stage, whereas the total nitrogen content affected the keystone genera during grain filling. Compared with CT, the treatments with mulch, i.e., NT and SS, significantly changed the AMF community composition. The change of AMF communities under different tillage practices depended on wheat biomass and soil nutrients. NT significantly increased the relative abundances of Glomus and Septoglomus, while RT significantly increased the relative abundance of Claroideoglomus. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the relative abundance of dominant genera changed during wheat growth stages. Proper tillage practices (e.g., NT and SS) benefit the long-term sustainable development of the Loess Plateau cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 3-Sesbania alley-based rainfed food-ufodder systems [Sesbania+(fodder sorghum–chickpea), Sesbania+(fodder sorghum–barley) and Sesbania+(fodder sorghum–mustard)] in main-plots and 6-reduced tillage and Sesbania mulching combinations in sub-plots to assess their impact on soil health. Minimum tillage (MT) during rainy season followed by zero tillage (ZT) during winter season along with mulch (MT-ZT+mulch) resulted in higher proportion of soil macro-aggregate, increased infiltration rate by 27.4%, hydraulic conductivity by 14.9% and water holding capacity by 5.9% (v/v) over conventional tillage (CT) during rainy season followed by conventional tillage during winter season without mulch (CT-CT without mulch). The MT-ZT+mulch had the highest soil organic carbon (7.3 g kg–1), microbial biomass carbon (226 mg kg–1 soil), SOC stock (14.9 Mg ha−1), carbon sequestration rate (1.72 Mg ha−1 year−1), soil quality index (SQI, 1.09) and enhanced the available soil N, P and K by 45.1, 47.2 and 22.2%, respectively, over CT-CT without mulching. The Sesbania alley + (fodder sorghum–mustard) cropping system had adverse effect on soil health while inclusion of chickpea in the system improved soil health and recorded the highest SQI (0.97). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural operations such as excessive tillage and intense cropping deplete soil organic carbon (SOC), making sustainable agriculture management critical for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluates the impact of crop intensification on soil quality and soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) under double cropping (DC) and single cropping pattern (SC) in upper Haramosh of Gilgit, Pakistan. Soil samples were taken from cropping zones (DC and SC) under three depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). Standard methods were used to analyze selected soil quality parameters and SOC. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed that soil temperature, moisture, pH, SOC, and SOCS highly significantly differed (p < 0.001) for different cropping patterns (DC and SC), whereas bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), and clay were not significantly different. The SC retained 4.4% more moisture and had lower BD than the DC, while BD increased with increasing depth. The texture of the soil was sandy loam at both cropping zones. The mean SOC and SOCS of SC were greater (by 12%) than in the DC zone. Pearson correlation showed a significant and positive correlation of SOC stock with SOC, moisture (p < 0.01), and EC (p < 0.05), but had a negative correlation with bulk density, pH (p < 0.01), and sand (p < 0.05). DC apparently degraded soil quality and organic carbon reserves, thus reducing the soil health in mountain agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cropping systems and tillage practices suitable for local environmental conditions to balance the demand for food production and environmental impacts are critical for achieving a low-carbon cycle and sustainability of agricultural production systems in arid and semiarid regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three tillage practices under diversified cropping systems in terms of food production, farmers' income, mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and economic and environmental sustainability. Therefore, we conducted a 12-year (2007–2019) field experiment involving three tillage practices (no-tillage, NT; subsoiling tillage, ST; conventional tillage, CT) and three cropping systems (continuous winter wheat, W-W; winter wheat-spring maize cropping, W-M; continuous spring maize, M-M) in the Loess Plateau of China to evaluate their impact on food production, farmers' income, GHG emissions, and environmental sustainability. Results indicated that the equivalent yield and equivalent economic benefit were the highest for M-M (9412 kg ha−1and 2655 USD ha−1); W-M and M-M increased equivalent yield by 44.1 % and 102.4 %, equivalent economic benefit by 44.6 % and 164.6 %, soil C sequestration by 23.8 % and 52.9 %, and reduced net GHG emissions (NGHG) by 12.5 % and 7.3 %, respectively, compared with W-W. The equivalent yield and equivalent economic benefit were highest under ST (7200 kg ha−1 and 1767 USD ha−1); NT and ST increased equivalent yield by 3.7 % and 8.1 %, equivalent economic benefit by 10.2 % and 11.1 %, soil C sequestration by 23.5 % and 7.5 %, and carbon sustainability index (CSI) by 5.5 % and 3.1 %, respectively, compared with CT. In addition, NT resulted in 6.5 % lower NGHG emissions than CT, whereas ST resulted in 2.7 % higher NGHG emissions than CT. This study identified W-M and NT with a higher comprehensive evaluation index (CEI) based on entropy-TOPSIS considering 6 indicators (equivalent yield, equivalent economic benefit, soil C sequestration, carbon sustainability index, net greenhouse gases emissions and yield-scaled carbon footprint). The adoption of W-M and NT in the Loess Plateau has the potential to enhance crop yield and farmers' income while proving benefits to the environment. These findings provide a scientifically grounded basis for selecting effective agricultural management strategies that can maintain food security while minimizing environmental impacts amid climate warming. • Trade-offs were assessed among yield, economic and environmental indicators. • Winter wheat-spring maize cropping can maintain food production and reduce environmental footprint. • No-tillage can enhance food production with reduce mechanical input and environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress has been the major limiting factor for the sustainable agriculture in the southern part of the North China Plain (NCP). It is a high demand to develop the water-saving agricultural practice for the winter wheat-summer maize double cropping system. Tillage practice has great effects on the soil water movement, water use efficiency, and crop growth, due to the changed soil physical properties and the disturbed soil materials. It is also essential to quantify the soil water dynamics and crop growth processes under different tillage practices for the reasonable tillage system. The objective of this study was to improve the Soil Water Heat Carbon Nitrogen Simulator (WHCNS) model, which was used to simulate the soil water movement and crop growth under different tillage practices. A system evaluation was also made to determine the tillage practices on the water balance, crop growth, and Water Use Efficiency (WUE). The WHCNS model was improved to add the tillage module using Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model. Among them, there were the effects of various tillage practices on the change of soil bulk density, soil hydraulic parameter, and soil water content. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Shangqiu experimental station of Henan province (34°35.222′N,115°34.515′E) on a silty clay soil in the southern part of the NCP from 2015 to 2017. Three tillage treatments were designed, including the Deep Tillage (DT), No Tillage (NT), and Rotation Tillage (RT). Some parameters were measured to calibrate and evaluate the improved WHCNS model, including the soil water storage, Leaf Area Index (LAI), crop dry mass, and yield. The performance of model was then verified by the Relative Root Mean Square Errors (nRMSE), consistency index, Nash coefficient (NSE), and coefficient of determination (R²) between the simulated and measured values. The improved model was then used to analyze the effects of different tillage practices on the soil evaporation, crop transpiration, actual evapotranspiration (ET), crop yield, and WUE of the winter wheat and summer maize. The results showed that there was no significance in the crop yields among different tillage practices. The nRMSE between the simulated and measured values of soil water storage, LAI, and dry mass for all treatments were all less than 30%, the consistency index values were all greater than 0.90, the NSE were all greater than 0.58, R² were all greater than 0.93, and the R2 between the simulated and measured values of crop yields was reached 0.99. Compared with DT and NT in both winter wheat seasons, RT reduced the ET by 8.8%-10.8% and 13.8%-21.0%, and increased WUE by 6.7%-9.4% and 15.7%-24.9%, respectively. Compared with DT and RT in both summer maize seasons, NT reduced the ET by 12.5%-12.9% and 20.7%-22.2%, and increased the WUE by 13.4%-15.2% and 29.1%-31.3%, respectively. In summary, the improved WHCNS model performed the best to simulate the dynamic processes of soil water storage and crop growth under different tillage practices in the NCP. Correspondingly, the WUE of RT was the best performance for the winter wheat, whereas, the WUE of NT was the best for the summer maize. The finding can provide a powerful tool to optimize the field tillage management practices for the water-saving agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted for four years (2014-2017) at five locations namely Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj of Sunsari district to assess the changes in soil chemical properties under conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices in two cropping systems namely rice-kidney bean-maize at Salbani and rice-wheat at rest of the locations. In rice-wheat cropping system, there were four treatments: (1) conventional tillage (CT) for rice transplantation and subsequent wheat sowing, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage (ZT) wheat, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage wheat, (4) zero tillage in both rice and wheat. Similarly, in rice-kidney bean-maize cropping system, there were four treatments; (1) conventional tillage for rice transplantation and sowing of both kidney bean and maize, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (4) zero tillage in all three crops. Soil samples were taken at initial and every year after rice harvest.The soil samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and soil organic matter.Total nitrogen (N) showed a slightly decreasing trend in the first three years and showed a slight increase at the end of experiment under ZT in all locations. The total N under ZT changed from 0.12 to 0.13%, 0.05 to 0.06%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.11 to 0.08% and 0.09 to 0.13% in Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj, respectively. All locations showed the positive values of available potassium; Salbani revealing considerable change of 64.3 to 78.5 mg/kg in CT while 68.4 to 73.3 mg/kg in ZT condition. The treatment where rice was transplanted in unpuddled condition and zero tilled to wheat, had a mean value of available phosphorus and potassium as 87.3 and 81.9 mg/kg respectively. Soil pH ranged from 4.8 to 7.1 in CT while it was 5.2 to 6.8 in ZT across the locations. The change in soil organic matter in CT of all locations except Salbani was narrower as compared to ZT.

Tillage is among the most important soil management practices, which exert strong impacts on weed flora composition in different cropping systems. The large-scale adoption of tillage and cropping systems warrants thorough investigation regarding their impacts on weed flora composition. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess weed flora composition of various barley-based cropping systems (BBCSs) under different tillage practices (TPs). Barley was sown in fallow-barley (F-B), maize-barley (M-B), cotton-barley (C-B), mungbean-barley (Mu-B) and sorghum-barley (S-B) cropping systems with zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), strip tillage (ST) and CT with bed sowing (CTBS). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded among study years and interactions among BBCSs and TPs. The C-B system with ST during 1st year recorded the highest density (35 m− 2) of broadleaved weeds, whereas the highest density (37.76 m− 2) of broadleaved weeds was noted for the same cropping system with MT. All TPs, except BS resulted in increased density of broadleaved weeds in 2nd year compared with 1st year of the study, whereas BS reduced broadleaved weeds' density during 2nd year. Nonetheless, M-B cropping system with ST and S-B cropping system with CTBS recorded the lowest density of broadleaved weeds during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Similarly, C-B cropping system with ZT (39.33 m− 2) and MT (24.00 m− 2) recorded the lowest density of grassy weeds during 1st and 2nd year respectively. Nonetheless, S-B system with CTBS and S-B and Mu-B systems with ST recorded no grassy weeds during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The S-B and M-B cropping systems suppressed various broadleaved and grassy weed species due to their allelopathic potential. In conclusion, different BBCSs had varying weed flora composition under different TPs. Adapting ST and CTBS can lower weed infestation. Similarly, inclusion of sorghum in rotation could be a viable option for effective weed management of barley-based cropping systems. Moreover, long-term experiments are needed to infer the weed seed bank in different TPs and BBCSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield in rain-fed agro-ecosystems is limited by low soil moisture availability and weeds. This study aimed to answer the questions- 1. Do tillage practices, mulching and Sesbania alley-based food-fodder cropping system affect weed dynamics under rainfed agro-ecosystem? and 2. Is the productivity of a Sesbania alley-based rainfed food-fodder system affected by tillage practice, mulching or crop sequence? A four-year field experiment was conducted with Sesbania alley-based food-fodder systems (sorghum – chickpea; sorghum – barley; sorghum – mustard), and three tillage practices (conventional tillage; minimum tillage during rainy season - zero tillage during winter season; conventional tillage during rainy season - zero tillage during winter season) with and without mulch. During the study period, conservation agricultural techniques resulted in a shift in weed flora in all Sesbania alley-based cropping systems. Grass, broadleaf, and total weed densities declined by 8–9%, 35–38%, and 11–13%, respectively, across diverse cropping systems from 2014 to 15; however, sedge population increased (13–29% increase) during the same period. Mulching practices considerably reduced sedge density compared to the without-mulch treatment in all the tillage combinations. The lowest total weed biomass was recorded for minimum tillage during the rainy season and zero tillage + mulching treatment (17 g m–2) during the winter season. Weed species abundance and dominance were greater in 2014, while the diversity and evenness of weed species were higher in 2016, which indicates a weed shift. Sesbania hedgerow + (sorghum-mustard) with conventional tillage during the rainy season and zero tillage during the winter season without mulching had the highest weed diversity index and evenness than that of other treatment combinations. The Sesbania dry matter (DM) yield was significantly higher by 13% and 11% in minimum tillage during the rainy season and zero tillage during the winter season with mulching compared to conventional tillage without mulch in 2015–16 and 2016–17, respectively. However, tillage and mulching had a significant effect on the grain and straw yields of winter crops. All the tillage practices with Sesbania mulching recorded higher grain and straw yields for winter crops compared to the un-mulched treatments. The innovative Sesbania alley-based rainfed food-fodder system, along with reduced tillage and mulching, improved productivity and altered weed dynamics. The knowledge gathered on weed dynamics may aid in determining weed management tactics under conservation agricultural practices. Double cropping is possible without compromising fodder needs by employing suitable tillage and mulching procedures, as well as Sesbania alley-based cropping systems. • Conservation agriculture led to shift in weed flora. • Adoption of conservation agriculture decreased weed density by 8 – 38%. • Conservation agriculture increased the sedge density by 13 – 29%. • Tillage with Sesbania mulching resulted in higher grain and straw yield of winter crops. • Fodder yield of sorghum was comparable between the tillage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field investigation was carried out at experimental farm of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India. The treatments consisted of two tillage practices viz. zero and conventional tillage as main plot and four nutrient management viz.100% inorganic fertilization, SPAD based nitrogen management, 25% of N supplement with vermicompost and split application nitrogen as sub plot. The highest rice equivalent yield (92.1 q ha-1), system productivity (25.23 kg ha-1 day-1) and B:C ratio (1.67),was recorded under zero tillage treatment as compare to conventional treatment. Further, rice equivalent yield (91.9 q ha-1), system productivity (25.18 kg ha-1 day-1) and B:C ratio (1.60), was maximum under split application of nitrogenous fertilizer. Minimum amount of total seasonal methane (48.89 kg ha-1 in kharif and 6.25 kg ha-1 in rabi), carbon dioxide (38.26 kg ha-1 in kharif and 157.03 kg ha-1 in rabi) and nitrous oxide (1.60 kg ha-1 in kharif and 21.67 kg ha-1 in rabi) emission was obtained from zero tilled plots and splited top dressing of nitrogenous fertilization emitted lowered methane (55.44 kg ha-1 in kharif and 5.52 kg ha-1 in rabi), carbon dioxide (40.39 kg ha-1 in kharif and 147.52 kg ha-1 in rabi) and nitrous oxide (1.61 kg ha-1 in kharif and 19.35 kg ha-1 in rabi). Zero tillage with split application of nitrogenous fertilizer could be an environmentally viable, productive and economically profitable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw return is a sustainable management practice that improves soil fertility, enhances crop yield and soil organic carbon (SOC), while the extent of its impact vary based on various management practices, as well as climate and soil properties. However, the overall effects of straw return combined with tillage (deep tillage-DTS, rotary tillage-RTS, and no-tillage-NTS) and fertilization (balanced-BFS, and unbalanced-UFS) on crop yield and SOC stock varied significantly. Our aim was to evaluate the overall suitability of straw return in conjunction with combined tillage and fertilizer effects on crop yield and SOC stock within wheat-maize cropping systems using meta-analysis and a random forest prediction model. Overall, straw return resulted in an 8.92% increase in crop yields and an 11.6% rise in SOC stock compared to straw removal, as simulated and predicted by the random forest model. For the combined effects of tillage and fertilizer with straw return resulted in significantly higher crop yield with DTS+BFS (14.9%) compared to RTS+BFS (6.11%) and NTS+BFS (6.19%). However, balanced fertilization with different tillage practices (NTS+BFS (14.6%), RTS+BFS (13.6%), and DTS+BFS (19.3%)) increased the SOC stock in compared to unbalanced fertilization with different tillage practices (NTS+UFS (7.44%), RTS+UFS (9.22%), and DTS+UFS (13.5%) during straw return. The random forest prediction model indicated consistent trends, showing that NTS+BFS had a more significant effect on SOC stock and crop yield in single cropping systems, while DTS+BFS had a greater impact in double cropping systems. The most important factors for yield and SOC stock were mean annual temperature and C input for NTS+BFS, as well as DTS. The study suggests that NTS+BFS is suitable for dry, wind erosion-sensitive regions, while DTS+BFS is suitable for humid, low-lying areas with double cropping systems. • A data-driven approach, incorporating simulation and prediction models were used. • DTS+BFS leads in higher yield; all tillage raises SOC stock. • MAT and straw C inputs are vital for crop yield and SOC stock. • NTS+BFS is mostly suitable for dry areas and DTS+BFS for humid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor soil health and low soil water content during crop growing period are major factor for low productivity of pearl millet – mustard rotation under rainfed semi-arid regions. The authors evaluated five different tillage and residue management practices for improving physico–chemical and biological properties of soil. Results showed that conservation agriculture (CA) practice (zero tillage (ZT) with 4 t ha–1 residue retention) exhibited higher proportion of soil macro-aggregate. It also increased infiltration rate of about 15.2% over conventional tillage without residue but ZT increased soil penetration resistance in surface soil layer. In the residue applied plots, ~2–4% (w/w) higher soil water content was maintained throughout the season than the no-residue plots. CA practice had the highest soil organic carbon (4.96 g kg–1) and microbial biomass carbon (188.3 μg g–1 soil). Significant and positive correlation was also found between soil organic carbon with infiltration rate (r = 0.73**), mean weight diameter (r = 0.80**) and microbial biomass carbon (r = 0.86**). Thus, this study suggests that ZT with residue retention can be advocated in pearl millet – mustard rotations for improving, productivity, soil health and maintaining higher soil water content in rainfed semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We compared aggregate stability, SOC stocks and microbial community composition across three management practices in a dryland cropping system. • Reduced tillage with residue incorporation enhanced aggregate stability and SOC stocks relative to conventional tillage with residue removal. • SOC stocks correlated strongly with gram negative bacteria (GN), and aggregate stability was positively related to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). • SOC and stability of individual aggregate size classes are more closely related to microbial community composition than microbial biomass. • GN and fungi were the top two microbial predictors of SOC and overall aggregate stability. Increasing soil carbon (C) stocks and improving soil structure are critical challenges in semi-arid agroecosystems. Conservation tillage has been widely applied to promote aggregate stability, enhance soil organic C (SOC) storage, and conjointly influence microbial community composition. However, the relation among soil microbial groups, aggregate stability and SOC stocks under management practices remains unclear. We conducted a 17-year field experiment in a spring maize cropping system on the Loess Plateau of northwest China, comparing three types of management: conventional tillage with residue removal (CT-RR), reduced tillage with residue incorporation (RT-RI) and no-tillage with residue mulching (NT-RM). We evaluated aggregate stability index (ASI), SOC stocks and microbial community composition at 0–10 and 10–25 cm. The results showed that RT-RI and NT-RM significantly increased ASI by 11% and 16% relative to CT-RR in the 0–10 cm layer; RT-RI significantly increased ASI by 13% relative to CT-RR in the 10–25 cm layer (p < 0.05). The RT-RI increased the SOC concentrations and SOC stocks of macroaggregates (>250 μm), which harbor most of the total SOC stocks in bulk soil. Both RT-RI and NT-RM increased total microbial biomass and biomass of six microbial groups (i.e., gram-negative bacteria (GN), gram-positive bacteria (GP), total bacteria (B), total fungi (F), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and saprophytic fungi (SF)) at 0–10 cm, and RT-RI increased the above groups at 10–25 cm. Across a range of microbial community indicators, we found strong positive relationships between SOC and GN, ASI and AMF in bulk soil. A random forest analysis indicated that GN and F were the best microbial predictors of SOC concentrations and overall aggregate stability, whereas AMF/SF was the best predictor of SOC concentrations within aggregates and the stability of individual aggregate size classes. These results demonstrated a strong link between aggregate stability, SOC dynamics and microbial community composition, and suggest that conservation tillage increases both soil aggregation and SOC storage, thus providing sustainability and technical feasibility for the development of dryland agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term studies are valuable in assessing the impact of crop management practices on soil sustainability and function. This study used two calculation scenarios, fixed depth and Equivalent Soil Mass (ESM) to assess (i) soil nutrient status and (ii) soil organic carbon (SOC) after 50 years of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates (0, 22, 45, and 67 kg N ha−1) and tillage [clean tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT)] in a dryland winter wheat-sorghum-fallow cropping system. The soil organic matter (SOM) content increased by 33% with NT and RT compared with CT. The SOC at 0-30 cm was 39% greater than 30-60 cm depth with both fixed depth and ESM calculations. Soil nutrient specifically soil calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) associated with N rates were no different than the control. Crop nutrient removal may eventually reduce soil nutrient contents with only N application. Nutrient addition specifically P should be considered in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation agriculture is a well-established method for promoting carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but little is known about how it affects subtropical dryland farming systems. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential of conservation agriculture in Pakistan's subtropical dryland to reduce atmospheric CO 2 enrichment and alter soil organic carbon fractions. In a field experiment, fallow-wheat (farmers' practice) and the conservation tillage methods minimum tillage (MT), reduced tillage (RT), and zero tillage (ZT) were compared to conventional tillage (CT) in the main plots and the cropping systems sorghum-wheat (S-W) and mungbean-wheat (M-W) to fallow-wheat (F-W) in the sub-plots. Multiple assessments taken over a two-year period revealed that CT plots lacked greater soil organic carbon and its fractions than ZT and RT plots. In comparison to CT, ZT, and RT exhibited higher average total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) concentrations, respectively, of 1.43% and 1.31%, 4.61% and 2.83%, 2.42% and 1.97%, and 1.66% and 1.76%. In comparison to the S-W cropping system, the F-W and M-W cropping systems showed increased MBC and MOC, but POC and TOC were little impacted. The maximum TOC (0.589% and 0.589%), MBC (0.021% and 0.021%), POC (0.195% and 0.192%), and MOC (0.489% and 0.485%) were found in the combinations of ZT with F-W and M-W. Regardless of the cropping systems, cumulative CO 2 flow was lowest in ZT plots compared to the other tillage techniques. The CENTURY model confirmed that the use of continuous tillage is a major threat to both soil fertility and production. The study, therefore, concludes that ZT and RT systems in particular are potential possibilities for carbon sequestration in subtropical dryland soils for CO 2 reduction. • Soil organic carbon and fractions affecting by tillage practices. • Emissions of CO 2 and carbon sequestration measured at experimental site. • Modeling used to project future SOC levels, informing sustainable land use. • Zero tillage promote soil health and productivity in rainfed agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat productivity and profitability is low under conventional tillage systems as they increase the production cost, soil compaction, and the weed infestation. Conservation tillage could be a pragmatic option to sustain the wheat productivity and enhance the profitability on long term basis. This study was aimed to evaluate the economics of different wheat-based cropping systems viz. fallow-wheat, rice-wheat, cotton-wheat, mung bean-wheat, and sorghum-wheat, with zero tillage, conventional tillage, deep tillage, bed sowing (60/30 cm beds and four rows), and bed sowing (90/45 cm beds and six rows). Results indicated that the bed sown wheat had the maximum production cost than other tillage systems. Although both bed sowing treatments incurred the highest production cost, they generated the highest net benefits and benefit: cost ratio (BCR). Rice-wheat cropping system with bed sown wheat (90/45 cm beds with six rows) had the highest net income (4129.7 US$ ha), BCR (2.87), and marginal rate of return compared with rest of the cropping systems. In contrast, fallow-wheat cropping system incurred the lowest input cost, but had the least economic return. In crux, rice-wheat cropping system with bed sown wheat (90/45 cm beds with six rows) was the best option for getting the higher economic returns. Moreover, double cropping systems within a year are more profitable than sole planting of wheat under all tillage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awareness to wards soil health and food quality has forced to find out a suitable and eco-friendly nutrient management system of crop production. Integrated nutrient management system found suitable on yield of cereal crops, but has least impact on leguminous crops. To study the impact of nutrient management practices and tillage practices was studied at the farm of Department of Soil Science, CSKHPKV, Palampur during 2013-16 gram-maize cropping sequence. The organic management with conventional tillage was found to be significantly superior with rest of the treatment combinations on yield attributes, symbiotic parameters and yield of gram in all the three years. The major constraints to grow gram at Palampur was the attack of root rot disease. The disease incidence was reduced through organic nutrient management with conventional tillage. The yield attributes and yield of maize was better in integrated management in organic management in second year. The conventional tillage in both the years registered significant impact on yield and yield attributes of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field study was carried out to determine the effect of tillage with and without residues and organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield of wheat-maize cropping systems in the erosion-vulnerable sub-humid area. Treatments included tillage levels i.e. ST (shallow tillage), STR (shallow tillage with residues), DT (deep tillage) and DTR (deep tillage with residues). Sub plots had three fertilizer's levels viz. F1 (control), F2 (inorganic fertilizers) and F3 (farm yard manure; FYM+ inorganic fertilizers). Deep tillage increased wheat yield by 60%, 37% and 29% over ST, STR and DTR, respectively. F2 and F3 increased grain and straw yield compare to F1. In the case of maize, DT increased grain yield by 53%, 20% and 15%, over ST, STR and DTR, respectively. Deep tillage showed statistically higher water use efficiency (WUE) of 4.56 kg ha-1 mm-1 and 4.02 kg ha-1 mm-1 for both wheat and maize, respectively. However, similar WUE of wheat and maize was recorded for F2 and F3. Soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium after wheat-maize cropping rotations significantly responded to tillage, residues and organic and inorganic fertilizers. These results suggest that deep tillage has the potential to increase crop yield and WUE of wheat-maize cropping system in mountainous and sub-humid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotation and tillage systems have important implications for weed infestation and crop productivity. In this study, five tillage systems viz . zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT), deep tillage (DT), bed sowing (60/30 cm with four rows; BS 1 ) and bed sowing (90/45 cm with six rows; BS 2 ) were evaluated in five different crop rotations viz . fallow-wheat (FW), rice-wheat (RW), cotton-wheat (CW), mungbean-wheat (MW) and sorghum-wheat (SW) for their effect on weed infestation and productivity of bread wheat. Interaction between different tillage practices and cropping systems had significant effect on density and dry biomass of total, broadleaved and grass weeds, agronomic and yield-related traits, and grain yield of bread wheat. The un-disturbed soils (ZT) under fallow-wheat or mungbean-wheat rotations favoured the weed prevalence (a total weed dry biomass of 72.4–109.6 and 105.6–112.1 g m −2 in first and second year, respectively). Contrary to this, the disturbed soils (CT, DT, BS 1 and BS 2 ) had less weed infestation with either of the rotations (a total weed biomass of 0.4–7.1 and 1.1–5.4 g m −2 in first and second year, respectively). Sorghum-wheat rotation had strong suppressive effect on weed infestation in all tillage systems. The impact of crop rotation was more visible during second year of experimentation. Bed sown wheat (BS 1 and BS 2 ) in mungbean-wheat rotation had the highest wheat grain yield (6.30–6.47 t ha −1 ) compared to other tillage systems in different crop rotation combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inappropriate farm practices can increase greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and reduce soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, thereby increasing carbon footprints (CFs), jeopardizing ecosystem services, and affecting climate change. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the effects of different tillage systems on CFs, GHGs emissions, and ecosystem service (ES) values of climate regulation and to identify climate-resilient tillage practices for a winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.)-summer maize ( Zea mays L.) cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP). The experiment was established in 2008 involving no-till with residue retention (NT), rotary tillage with residue incorporation (RT), sub-soiling with residue incorporation (ST), and plow tillage with residue incorporation (PT). The results showed that GHGs emissions from agricultural inputs were 6432.3–6527.3 kg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 during the entire growing season, respectively. The GHGs emission from chemical fertilizers and irrigation accounted for >80% of that from agricultural inputs during the entire growing season. The GHGs emission from agricultural inputs were >2.3 times larger in winter wheat than that in the summer maize season. The CFs at yield-scale during the entire growing season were 0.431, 0.425, 0.427, and 0.427 without and 0.286, 0.364, 0.360, and 0.334 kg CO 2 -eq kg −1 yr −1 with SOC sequestration under NT, RT, ST, and PT, respectively. Regardless of SOC sequestration, the CFs of winter wheat was larger than that of summer maize. Agricultural inputs and SOC change contributed mainly to the component of CFs of winter wheat and summer maize. The ES value of climate regulation under NT was ¥159.2, 515.6, and 478.1 ha −1 yr −1 higher than that under RT, ST, and PT during the entire growing season. Therefore, NT could be a preferred “Climate-resilient” technology for lowering CFs and enhancing ecosystem services of climate regulation for the winter wheat–summer maize system in the NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of carbon and water budgets in cropping systems is important for understanding the impacts of different management practices and meteorological conditions, in the context of climate change, on agriculture. We have established a pair of long-term eddy covariance flux towers at the R. J. Cook Agronomy Farm (CAF) near Pullman, Washington, US. The tower sites have similar crop rotation, weather conditions, and management practices except tillage. One site has been under no-till management (CAF-NT) since 1998, while the other site has used conventional tillage practice (CAF-CT) over the same time period. Measurements conducted above a garbanzo bean crop ( Cicer arietinum ) between October 2012 and September 2013 showed the CAF-NT site was close to CO 2 neutral with an annual cumulative net ecosystem exchange of CO 2 (NEE) of −20 ± 38 g C m −2 . By contrast, the CAF-CT site was a CO 2 source with an annual NEE of 117 ± 39 g C m −2 during the same time period. The annual NEE values at each site were significantly different ( p < 0.05). When carbon losses via harvest export were taken into account, the net rates of carbon loss from each ecosystem to the atmosphere were 32 ± 50 and 178 ± 48 g C m −2 for CAF-NT and CAF-CT, respectively, indicating CAF-NT was close to carbon neutral and CAF-CT was a net carbon source during the measurement period. Partitioning of NEE into gross primary productivity (GPP) and total ecosystem respiration ( R eco ) shows that the annual cumulative GPP of each site did not differ much, but CAF-NT had lower annual cumulative R eco compared to CAF-CT during the period of October 2012–September 2013. Water budget analyses presented similar magnitudes of annual sums of evapotranspiration (ET), 425 and 416 mm for CAF-NT and CAF-CT, respectively. ET was partitioned into evaporation ( E ) and transpiration ( T ) for both sites, and CAF-CT had a larger fraction of annual E compared to CAF-NT during the measurement period. Relationships between carbon and water fluxes were investigated, and for the period of October 2012–September 2013, high correlations were found in GPP vs. T and NEE vs. ET at both sites. In summary, the site deploying no-till practices had lower total ecosystem respiration and evaporation throughout the measurement period, more net carbon uptake and a greater ratio of transpiration over evapotranspiration ( T /ET) during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Loess Plateau is a typical dryland agricultural region where water shortages are the primary limiting factor for crop production. Deep soil moisture plays a crucial role in the regulation of seasonal water shortages, however, the distribution of soil water and its temporal variation in the deep soil profile (i.e., below 2.0 m) are usually unknown in a dryland agricultural field. A field study of three cropping systems (i.e., WWC, continuous winter wheat; SMC, continuous spring-maize; and WMR, a rotation of winter wheat and spring maize) and three tillage practices (i.e., NT, no tillage; ST, subsoiling tillage; and CT, conventional tillage) was carried out in a semi-arid region, and the crop yield, vertical distribution patterns and temporal variability of the soil moisture in a 5.0 m soil profile were studied to evaluate the effect of the various management strategies on the soil water sustainability. The results indicated that the WMR and SMC systems combined with ST practice obtained higher crop yield and water use efficiency, compared to the WWC system. And the time-averaged soil moisture for the three cropping systems differed significantly (P < 0.05). The WWC system can utilize soil water below 2.0 m and caused greater soil water depletion in the 0–5.0 m soil layer. However, no significant differences in the soil water content were found among the different tillage practices. The top soil layer showed a higher index of temporal stability (ITS) value for all cropping systems, but the ITS increased with soil depth in the deep soil profile (below 3.0 m) with the WWC system. Ultimately, the most time-stable depth (MTSD) for estimating the mean soil moisture of the profile was determined to be the 2.0–3.0 soil layer for all three systems based on the ITS values, but the mechanism by which the MTSD was formed differed for the various cropping systems. The soil moisture at the MTSD under WMR and SMC had high temporal stability, and contributed to better soil water sustainability in a dryland agricultural field. These findings may provide helpful base references for evaluating the effect of different management strategies on the soil water and the temporal stability parameters of soil moisture, as well as their impact on the sustainability of the deep soil moisture in a dryland agricultural field. • Water consumption by deep-rooted crops was underestimated due to the detection depth. • Soil water depletion occurred in a continuous winter wheat cropping system. • WMR and SMC improve the temporal stability of soil moisture in the deep soil profile. • The formation mechanism of MTSD differed for different cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: No tillage (NT) of summer maize (Zea mays L.) is the dominant agricultural practice in the annual double-cropping system of winter wheat–summer maize in the North China Plain, and the long-term NT is often unfavorable for the growth of maize roots. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2-year-old rotary tillage (RT) and plowing tillage (PT) based at NT soil on root growth, spatial distribution, nutrients uptake and grain yield in Wuqiao of the North China Plain. PT and RT significantly increased root biomass across 0–40cm soil profile in the whole growth stage. Lower bulk density under PT and RT was compared to under NT in the 0–20cm soil profile, and penetration resistance under NT was significantly higher than under PT and RT in the 0–30cm soil profile. Root length density (RLD) in the uppermost soil profile (0–10cm) had no evident differences among tillage practices at silking stage, but RLD under PT and RT was significantly greater than under NT at maturity. Moreover, RLD and root surface density (RSD) were significantly higher under PT than under NT in the topmost layer, 10–50cm soil profile, but there were no differences in RLD and RSD among tillage practices at the deeper soil profile below 60cm. PT and RT markedly improved the root-bleeding sap rate in the whole growth stages in 2011 and most growth stages in 2012. In addition, NH4 + and NO3 − delivery rate under PT were significantly higher than those under RT and NT in 2011 and 2012, and under RT were significantly higher than under NT in 2012. The delivery rate of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn in bleeding sap under PT was significantly higher than those under NT at different growing stages across the two years. Our results suggested that short-term PT and RT could increase root biomass, improve root spatial and temporal distribution, and enhance nutrients uptake, which resulted in higher biomass and grain yield of summer maize in the North China Plain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Different crop sequences and tillage systems strongly affect weed flora composition and crop productivity. Exploring the impacts of tillage systems and crop sequences on weed infestation/flora and crop productivity may help in improving system productivity through the selection of optimum cropping sequence and tillage system. This two-year study assessed the impact of five crop sequences, i.e., fallow-barley (F-B), maize-barley (M-B), cotton-barley (C-B), mungbean-barley (MB-B) and sorghum-barley (S-B) on weed infestation and productivity of barley crop under five different tillage systems, i.e., conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), strip tillage (ST) and bed sowing (BS). Crop sequences and tillage systems significantly altered density and biomass of total and individual weeds, and yield-related traits of barley. The F-B, MB-B or C-B sequences with NT recorded higher weed infestation compared to the rest of crop sequences and tillage systems. However, all crop sequences with tilled soils (i.e., BS and CT) recorded lesser weed infestation than NT. The S-B and M-B sequences suppressed weed infestation under different tillage systems. Bed-sown barley in MB-B sequence had the highest number of productive tillers (251.79 and 273.74), number of grains spike−1 (56.53 and 54.60), 1000-grains weight (40.98 and 40.98 g) and grain yield (3.27 and 3.32 t ha−1) during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Adoption of bed sowing and crop sequence having allelopathic crop seemed a viable option to suppress weed infestation, whereas crop sequence with legume improved system productivity of barley-based crop sequences. • Sorghum-barley crop sequence suppressed weed infestation. • Lower weed infestation was recorded for bed sowing. • Mungbean-barley sequence increased barley yield. • Mungbean-barley sequence is recommended for increased yield. • Sorghum-barley sequences is recommended for decreasing weed infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]