An Investigation of Maize Tillage and Residue Management in Uzbekistan
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Tillage and crop‐residue management can substantially modify soil physical conditions, water storage, and maize performance in semi‐arid environments. A stationary field experiment was conducted during 2020–2022 at the Samarkand Agricultural Development Research Station, Uzbekistan, to compare conventional tillage, shallow tillage, and no‐till residue‐management systems on permanent maize plots. The randomized complete block design included four blocks, with repeated observations on the same plots over three growing seasons. Soil bulk density, gravimetric moisture content, and penetration resistance were determined at presowing, V12–V13, and grain‐maturity stages in the 0–15 and 15–30 cm layers. Soil–water storage was calculated for the 0–30 cm profile, and grain yield was adjusted to 14% moisture. No‐till maintained the highest water storage before sowing and at V12–V13, whereas conventional tillage maintained the greatest water storage at grain maturity. Conventional tillage consistently produced the lowest bulk density and penetration resistance. At grain maturity in the 15–30 cm layer, penetration resistance was 3.74 MPa under conventional tillage, 4.07 MPa under shallow tillage, and 4.17 MPa under no‐till. The model‐estimated marginal mean grain yield was 6.25 t ha −1 under conventional tillage, 5.94 t ha −1 under shallow tillage, and 5.73 t ha −1 under no‐till. The treatment ranking remained stable over all 3 years. Under the short‐term conditions of this experiment, conventional tillage provided the highest maize yield, while shallow tillage generated intermediate responses in soil physical properties and crop productivity.
Source: Advances in Agriculture
DOI: 10.1155/aia/6103645
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $860
OpenAlex ID: W7213470366