The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield

Implementing management practices that minimize environmental impact while maintaining high crop yields is essential to achieve sustainable agricultural production. This study conducted a field trial within a soybean system to evaluate the responses of crop yield, residue decomposition, soil organic...

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Main Authors: Qiliang Hunag, Yingting Gong, Peiran Li, Ratih Kemala Dewi, Masakazu Komatsuzaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2119
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author Qiliang Hunag
Yingting Gong
Peiran Li
Ratih Kemala Dewi
Masakazu Komatsuzaki
author_facet Qiliang Hunag
Yingting Gong
Peiran Li
Ratih Kemala Dewi
Masakazu Komatsuzaki
author_sort Qiliang Hunag
collection DOAJ
description Implementing management practices that minimize environmental impact while maintaining high crop yields is essential to achieve sustainable agricultural production. This study conducted a field trial within a soybean system to evaluate the responses of crop yield, residue decomposition, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, and soil total nitrogen (STN) stock to varying tillage [moldboard tillage (MP) vs. no-tillage (NT)] and cover crop [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth, HV) vs. rye (Secale cereal, RY)] management practices. The results showed no significant difference in soybean economic yield between MP and NT. However, NT demonstrated a higher SOC stock (0–30 cm), exceeding MP by 4.0% in 2020 and 8.2% in 2021. STN stock (0–30 cm) under NT also surpassed that of MP by 3.3% in 2020 and 3.6% in 2021. No significant differences were observed in soybean yield, SOC stock, and STN stock between HV and RY. Compared to NT, MP accelerated the decomposition of cover crop residues. Moreover, the decomposition of RY was more difficult than that of HV. These findings suggest that NT enhances soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration without compromising yield, positioning it as a sustainable practice for soybean systems, particularly when integrated with RY cover crops.
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spelling doaj-art-b4aa6f60a14a42daa828f0e98cfa6abc2024-12-27T14:02:45ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722024-11-011412211910.3390/agriculture14122119The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean YieldQiliang Hunag0Yingting Gong1Peiran Li2Ratih Kemala Dewi3Masakazu Komatsuzaki4United Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, JapanInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the PRC, Guangzhou 510655, ChinaCollege of Vocational Studies, IPB University, Jl Kumbang No 14, Cilibende, Bogor, West Java 16151, IndonesiaCollege of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Ami, Ibaraki 300-0393, JapanImplementing management practices that minimize environmental impact while maintaining high crop yields is essential to achieve sustainable agricultural production. This study conducted a field trial within a soybean system to evaluate the responses of crop yield, residue decomposition, soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, and soil total nitrogen (STN) stock to varying tillage [moldboard tillage (MP) vs. no-tillage (NT)] and cover crop [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth, HV) vs. rye (Secale cereal, RY)] management practices. The results showed no significant difference in soybean economic yield between MP and NT. However, NT demonstrated a higher SOC stock (0–30 cm), exceeding MP by 4.0% in 2020 and 8.2% in 2021. STN stock (0–30 cm) under NT also surpassed that of MP by 3.3% in 2020 and 3.6% in 2021. No significant differences were observed in soybean yield, SOC stock, and STN stock between HV and RY. Compared to NT, MP accelerated the decomposition of cover crop residues. Moreover, the decomposition of RY was more difficult than that of HV. These findings suggest that NT enhances soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration without compromising yield, positioning it as a sustainable practice for soybean systems, particularly when integrated with RY cover crops.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2119conservation tillagecover cropsoil organic carbonsoil total nitrogenresidue decomposition
spellingShingle Qiliang Hunag
Yingting Gong
Peiran Li
Ratih Kemala Dewi
Masakazu Komatsuzaki
The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
Agriculture
conservation tillage
cover crop
soil organic carbon
soil total nitrogen
residue decomposition
title The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
title_full The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
title_fullStr The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
title_short The Effects of Tillage Systems and Cover Crops on Soil Quality and Soybean Yield
title_sort effects of tillage systems and cover crops on soil quality and soybean yield
topic conservation tillage
cover crop
soil organic carbon
soil total nitrogen
residue decomposition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2119
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