The influence of different soil cultivation technologies on the balance of organic matter and bioenergetic efficiency of crop cultivation in crop rotation

Abstract

Abstract
Background and Aim. The relevance of this research lies in the need to stabilize and increase soil organic matter content in the North Kazakhstan region. Currently, soil fertility in the region is assessed as low to moderate levels (2.1–6.0%) on more than 95% of arable land. A long-term assessment of soil humus dynamics over 30 years in the North Kazakhstan region revealed a 20–35% decrease from
the initial content, ranging from 5.6–6%, and an annual loss of up to 0.4–0.6% with extensive farming practices.
Materials and Methods. The research was conducted in a five-field crop rotation (fallow-rapeseedwheat-pea-wheat) with various farming techniques traditional (mechanical tillage), minimum-tillage, and no-till. The research methodology involved field trials at a permanent facility, as well as laboratory assessment of crop productivity and data analysis.
Results. The study found that resource-saving crop rotation systems minimal tillage and no-tillage are the most productive, while also increasing the bioenergetic efficiency of agroecosystems. Furthermore, these systems ensure minimal environmental impact with a positive balance of soil organic matter and its group composition.
Conclusion. The long-term use of resource-saving farming systems on ordinary chernozems not only contributes to an overall increase in humus and related indicators (carbon, humic acids, fulvic acids), but also results in high production efficiency, even taking into account the humus consumption required for crop formation. The practical value of the conducted research lies in obtaining reliable data for assessing the impact of farming systems applied at an industrial scale on overall productivity and the effectiveness of the impact on soil fertility indicators.