Dynamic of changes in soil physical properties depending on tillage systems

Abstract

Abstract
Background and Aim. In global agricultural practice, direct seeding and minimum tillage are regarded as effective methods for reducing energy inputs and financial costs per hectare, as well as for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The research was aimed at studying the effect of tillage systems on the physical properties of soil during the cultivation of agricultural crops under the arid conditions of
Northern Kazakhstan. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of tillage systems on changes in the physical properties of the soil.
Materials and Methods. Field studies were conducted at a long-term stationary experimental site of “A.I. Baraev Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming” LLP on heavy loamy carbonate southern chernozem soils. The coordinates of the field plot were 51°35′19.8″N, 71°03′11.2″E. Soil samples were taken from different soil layers at various depths to determine soil bulk density, aggregatesize composition and aggregate water stability using standard methods and were delivered to the
laboratory.
Results. The article presents a comparative assessment of three tillage methods (conventional, minimum and no-till) under continuous spring wheat cultivation, with a focus on the rational use of carbonate southern chernozem soils. The study found that the long-term application of minimum tillage and no-till technologies has a positive effect on the physical properties of the soil.
Conclusion. The conducted studies showed that reduced mechanical tillage systems did not deteriorate the physical properties of the soil. The bulk density of the soil in the 0–30 cm layer under no-till and minimum tillage systems was 1.25–1.28 g/cm3, whereas under conventional tillage it was
1.22 g/cm3. The content of agronomically valuable aggregates (0.25–10 mm) in the upper 0–25 cm layer
varied within 81.6–84.5%, while the lowest value (75.76%) was observed under the conventional tillage system. The proportion of water-stable aggregates under conventional and minimum tillage ranged from 60.4%–61.1%, while under no-till it reached the highest value of 64.8%. This, in turn ,contributes to the improvement of the soil’s physical properties and ensures agroecological stability, whereas conventional tillage leads to the destruction of soil structure.