Abstract
Abstract Tillage is an important agricultural practice, influencing the physical, chemical and biological soil characteristics. In this paper the influence of various tillage systems combined with or without a cover crop under different nitrogen fertilization levels on silage maize yield and soil fertility was investigated. Based on a field trial in Bottelare (Belgium), during the period 2007–2015, it was concluded that for each tillage system higher nitrogen levels resulted in a higher yield. In addition, the highest yield was achieved for the conventional tillage system, the yield gain for mouldboard ploughing varied between 13% (2015) and 71% (2012) compared to zero tillage. In case reduced tillage was adopted, the yield loss compared to mouldboard ploughing varied between 6% (2013 and 2015) and 24% (2012). Furthermore, it seemed that the accumulated temperature during the growing season and rainfall around flowering were decisive in determining maize yield. Additionally, rainfall in the period 60 days post sowing was significantly negatively correlated with the yield from the zero tillage plots, whereas in case tillage was adopted no correlations with rainfall 60 days post sowing were detected. Concerning the soil organic carbon content and the amount of earthworms, no clear trends could be observed. Zero tillage resulted in high weed pressure and caused soil compaction. So, in this trial, under humid conditions, the less labor intensive zero tillage system did not result in competitive maize yields. In conclusion, reduced tillage methods offer opportunities for maize cultivation in Belgium. This method of farming resulted in a lower yield, however, the difference with mouldboard ploughing was not significant. Therefore, adopting a reduced tillage system can be seen as a valid alternative for ploughing as this tillage system ensures a sustainable environment.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Higher nitrogen levels raised yield under every tillage system.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“for each tillage system higher nitrogen levels resulted in a higher yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Mouldboard ploughing yielded 13% to 71% more than zero tillage.
- Treatment
- mouldboard ploughinge0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- gaine0
- Value
- 13% (2015) and 71% (2012)e0
- Comparator
- zero tillagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“silage maize”
e0“the yield gain for mouldboard ploughing varied between 13% (2015) and 71% (2012) compared to zero tillage”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced tillage yielded 6% to 24% less than mouldboard ploughing.
- Treatment
- reduced tillagee0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- losse0
- Value
- 6% (2013 and 2015) and 24% (2012)e0
- Comparator
- mouldboard ploughinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“silage maize”
e0“In case reduced tillage was adopted, the yield loss compared to mouldboard ploughing varied between 6% (2013 and 2015) and 24% (2012)”
Claim · model-written summary
Growing-season accumulated temperature and rainfall around flowering were decisive for maize yield.
- Organ / stage
- floweringe0
- Outcome
- maize yielde0
- Qualifier
- accumulated temperature during the growing season and rainfall around floweringe0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the accumulated temperature during the growing season and rainfall around flowering were decisive in determining maize yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Rainfall in the 60 days after sowing correlated negatively with zero-tillage yield.
- Treatment
- zero tillagee0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- negatively correlatede0
- Qualifier
- rainfall in the period 60 days post sowinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“rainfall in the period 60 days post sowing was significantly negatively correlated with the yield from the zero tillage plots”
Claim · model-written summary
Rainfall in the 60 days after sowing showed no correlation with yield under tillage.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“in case tillage was adopted no correlations with rainfall 60 days post sowing were detected”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil organic carbon content and earthworm amount showed no clear trends.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“the soil organic carbon content and the amount of earthworms, no clear trends could be observed”
Claim · model-written summary
Zero tillage produced high weed pressure.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Zero tillage resulted in high weed pressure”
Claim · model-written summary
Zero tillage caused soil compaction.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Zero tillage resulted in high weed pressure and caused soil compaction”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced tillage was recommended as an alternative to ploughing.
- Outcome
- reduced tillage systeme0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“adopting a reduced tillage system can be seen as a valid alternative for ploughing”
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