Abstract
This study investigated the impact of conventional ploughing (CT), minimum multitiller tillage (MT), and reduced loosening tillage (RT), with and without straw mulch on Fluvisol properties and crop yields in Croatia over three years (2019–2021). While conservation tillage practices are well studied in arid regions, our study addresses the unique challenges and benefits of these practices in humid conditions. Plots treated with straw mulch (2.75 t/ha) showed significant improvements in soil physical properties compared to bare plots. Penetration resistance (PR) decreased under 3-year mulch application in all tillage systems, with a reduction of up to 28% compared to bare plots. Water-holding capacity (WHC) was significantly higher in mulched MT (52.4%) than in bare CT (41.6%). Aggregate stability increased by 15–20% under mulch, with the highest stability in MT plots. Soil organic matter (SOM) peaked in mulched MT in 2021, reaching 4.5%, compared to 3.6% in bare CT. Yield results varied by crop: soybean yield was unaffected by tillage treatment but increased by 21% under mulch in MT; maize yield was highest in RT without mulch (13.95 t/ha); and spring wheat yield significantly improved in mulched MT (3.83 t/ha), compared to bare plots (1.75 t/ha). These findings highlight the synergistic benefits of non-inversion tillage and straw mulch in enhancing soil quality and crop yields, offering a sustainable management strategy for Central European agroecosystems.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Three years of mulch reduced penetration resistance by up to 28% versus bare plots.
- Treatment
- 3-year mulch applicatione0
- Outcome
- Penetration resistance (PR)e0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 28%e0
- Comparator
- bare plotse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Penetration resistance (PR) decreased under 3-year mulch application in all tillage systems, with a reduction of up to 28% compared to bare plots”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulched MT had 52.4% water-holding capacity versus 41.6% for bare CT.
- Treatment
- mulched MTe0
- Outcome
- Water-holding capacity (WHC)e0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 52.4%e0
- Qualifier
- 41.6%e0
- Comparator
- bare CTe0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Water-holding capacity (WHC) was significantly higher in mulched MT (52.4%) than in bare CT (41.6%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulch increased aggregate stability by 15–20%.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“Aggregate stability increased by 15–20% under mulch, with the highest stability in MT plots”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulched MT gave the highest aggregate stability.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“Aggregate stability increased by 15–20% under mulch, with the highest stability in MT plots”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil organic matter reached 4.5% in mulched MT versus 3.6% in bare CT in 2021.
- Treatment
- mulched MTe0
- Outcome
- Soil organic matter (SOM)e0
- Direction
- peakede0
- Value
- 4.5%e0
- Qualifier
- 3.6%e0
- Comparator
- bare CTe0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“Soil organic matter (SOM) peaked in mulched MT in 2021, reaching 4.5%, compared to 3.6% in bare CT”
Claim · model-written summary
Soybean yield was unaffected by tillage treatment.
- Taxon
- soybean
Glycine maxe0 - Treatment
- tillage treatmente0
- Outcome
- soybean yielde0
- Direction
- unaffectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“soybean yield was unaffected by tillage treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulch in MT increased soybean yield by 21%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“soybean yield was unaffected by tillage treatment but increased by 21% under mulch in MT”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize yield was highest in RT without mulch at 13.95 t/ha.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maize yield was highest in RT without mulch (13.95 t/ha)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mulched MT increased spring wheat yield to 3.83 t/ha versus 1.75 t/ha for bare plots.
- Taxon
- spring wheat
Triticum aestivume0 - Treatment
- mulched MTe0
- Outcome
- spring wheat yielde0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Value
- 3.83 t/hae0
- Qualifier
- 1.75 t/hae0
- Comparator
- bare plotse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“spring wheat yield significantly improved in mulched MT (3.83 t/ha), compared to bare plots (1.75 t/ha)”
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