Influence of soil tillage system on soil compaction and winter wheat yield

Abstract

Tillage systems can affect soil compaction, water content, soil temperature, and yields of cultivated plants. This work examined a Vertisol and the influence of the tillage system on soil compaction and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains. The trial was conducted in the vicinity of Požega, Western Serbia, from 2014 to 2017. Four tillage systems (conventional tillage, reduced tillage, disc harrowing, and no-tillage) were applied in the experiment. Tillage systems have significantly influenced soil compaction, measurement time, and soil depth. Mean soil compaction in 2016- 2017 was 1.96 MPa, which was 0.17 MPa lower than in 2014-2015 and 0.30 MPa higher than in 2015-2016. The highest mean wheat yield occurred in the conventional tillage system (4033 kg ha-1), and it was significantly higher than the yield obtained in other soil tillage systems. There was a strong negative correlation between mean wheat yield and soil compaction. It was necessary to apply complete soil tillage to achieve satisfactory wheat grain yields on the Vertisol, which implies plowing and adequate pre-sowing soil preparation.