Controlled traffic farming with no tillage for improved fallow water storage and crop yield on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Article
Article Title | Controlled traffic farming with no tillage for improved fallow water storage and crop yield on the Chinese Loess Plateau |
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ERA Journal ID | 5270 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Wang, Qingjie (Author), Chen, Hao (Author), Li, Hongwen (Author), Li, Wenying (Author), Wang, Xiaoyan (Author), McHugh, A. D. (Author), He, Jin (Author) and Gao, Huanwen (Author) |
Journal Title | Soil and Tillage Research |
Journal Citation | 104 (1), pp. 192-197 |
Number of Pages | 6 |
Year | 2009 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
ISSN | 0167-1987 |
0933-3630 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2008.10.012 |
Web Address (URL) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198708002031 |
Abstract | On the semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China, water is typically the biggest constraint to rainfed wheat production. Controlled traffic, combined with zero tillage and residue cover has been proposed to improve soil water, crop yield and water use efficiency. From 1998 to 2005, we conducted a field experiment comparing the water storage and wheat productivity of controlled traffic farming and conventional tillage farming. Three treatments were studied: controlled traffic with no tillage and full residue cover (NTCN), controlled traffic with shallow tillage and full residue cover (STCN) and random traffic with traditional tillage and partial residue cover (CT). Compared to CT, the controlled traffic treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density in 10-20 cm soil layer, significantly increased soil water content in the 0-150 cm soil profile at sowing, 9.3% for NTCN, 9.6% for STCN. These effects were greater in dry seasons, thus reducing the yearly variation in water conservation. Consequently, mean wheat yield of NTCN, STCN and CT were 3.25, 3.27 and 3.05 t ha-1, respectively, in which controlled traffic treatments increased by 6.9% with less yearly variation, compared to traditional tillage. Furthermore, controlled traffic had greater economic benefits than conventional tillage. Within controlled traffic treatments, NTCN showed better overall performance. In conclusion, controlled traffic farming has a better performance with respect to conserving water, improves yields and increases economic benefits. No tillage controlled traffic farming appears to be a solution to the water problem facing farmers on the Loess Plateau of China. |
Keywords | amelioration; available water capacity; bulk density; compaction; controlled traffic; permanent beds; zero tillage; macropore density; Vertosol |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370901. Geomorphology and earth surface processes |
300207. Agricultural systems analysis and modelling | |
300202. Agricultural land management | |
Public Notes | © 2008 Elsevier B.V. Permanent restricted access to published version due to publisher copyright policy. |
Byline Affiliations | China Agricultural University, China |
University of Queensland | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q2v54/controlled-traffic-farming-with-no-tillage-for-improved-fallow-water-storage-and-crop-yield-on-the-chinese-loess-plateau
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