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Article

Research into the Mechanical Tillage Regulation Mechanisms of the Soil Structure in Black Soil Paddy Fields

by
Qiuju Wang
1,
Bingqi Bai
2,
Yuping Liu
2,
Baoguang Wu
2,*,
Jingyang Li
1 and
Jiahe Zou
1
1
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
2
College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2025, 15(11), 1145; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111145
Submission received: 20 April 2025 / Revised: 19 May 2025 / Accepted: 23 May 2025 / Published: 26 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Production)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
This study investigated the impact of the response mechanism of tillage construction on paddy yield in black soil fields by adopting four mechanical tillage techniques, namely, rotary tillage (RT), shallow plowing (SP), deep plowing (DP), and culvert pipe drainage (CD), to solve the problems associated with the reduction in the effective tillage layer in black soil paddy fields, as well as the poor quality and low yield of paddy rice. The results showed that SP, DP, and CD techniques were able to increase the rice yield and improve the effective tillage layer of the soil and the soil structure. Among them, DP had the most obvious effect, compared with traditional RT; the fast-acting N was 37.27 mg/kg higher in the 20–30 cm soil layer, and the soil solid phase decreased by 1.86–3.90% in the soil tripartite ratio. The soil bulk density of DP in the 10–20 cm soil layer decreased by 0.08 g/cm3, and, in the 20–30 cm soil layer, it decreased by 0.03 g/cm3. These physicochemical properties promoted the development and growth of roots and increased the growth of the root system by 6.53–16.33%, with the yield also increased by up to 9.81%. The CD technique could improve paddy field drainage and increase crop yields. This study combines four mechanical tillage techniques and proposes a mechanism of tillage construction from soil structure improvement to soil physicochemical property enhancement, and then to root system and yield enhancement. This mechanism may help to guide the implementation of mechanical tillage methods in paddy fields, which will provide important insights for future agricultural practices.

1. Introduction

Paddy soil is a particular type of soil formed by the evolution of other soils under long-term irrigation and rice cultivation conditions [1]. Different soil types and hydrological conditions result in varying physical and chemical properties in paddy soil, with different effects on the soil’s water, fertilizer, air, heat, and nutrient content. It can be predicted that various types of paddy soil developed from different soil types will inevitably have different impacts on rice growth and development. Therefore, there are significant differences in the obstacle factors affecting the yield of paddy soil made up of multiple soil types. For example, numerous investigations have proven that the obstacle factor in paddy soil formed from albic soil is the presence of a leaching deposition argillic horizon. This horizon has a heavy texture and poor water-holding, permeability, and physical properties. Lowering this argillic horizon is the key to increasing rice yields [2]. Paddy soil formed from meadow soil has a deep soil layer, fertile soil, a moderate sand–clay ratio, and rich nutrients. However, the groundwater level is often too high, which can easily cause poor drainage. The growth of rice is slow in the early growth stage. Therefore, it is particularly important to implement shallow-water irrigation and timely field drying to increase soil and water temperatures [3]. Paddy soil, consisting of black soil, is fertile and has a high organic matter content. However, long-term tillage has led to a thinning of the organic matter layer in black soil, a decline in soil fertility, and a deterioration of the soil structure, which is an important factor affecting yields [4]. Therefore, rational tillage and sustainable development are required. In this study, the focus was on the obstacle factors affecting paddy soil formed from black soil, and the response mechanisms of several typical tillage methods to paddy yields were investigated.
Black soil in cultivated land has good properties and high fertility, making it very suitable for plant growth. It is a precious and rare Earth soil resource and is known as the “giant panda in cultivated land” [5]. There are only four major black soil regions in the world, namely, the Mississippi River Basin in the United States, the Ukrainian Steppe, the Pampas Plateau in Argentina, and the Northeast Black Soil Region in China [6]. The total area of the Northeast Black Soil Region in China is approximately 1.03 million square kilometers, and it plays an important role in ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural development [7]. However, numerous studies [8,9,10,11] have shown that, in the Sanjiang Plain region of Northeast China, the long-term use of improper tillage patterns has led to a significant thinning of the effective tillage layer of the soil, a reduction in the tillage depth, and an upward shift in the plow-pan position. This has restricted the effective growth space of rice roots and the absorption capacity of deep-layer soil nutrients [12]. This change has not only reduced the nutrient supply per unit area of the soil, forcing rice production to rely excessively on chemical fertilizers to maintain high and stable yields, but also weakened the soil fixing ability and lodging resistance of the roots, as they can only extend horizontally instead of vertically [13]. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of the soil tillage layer have deteriorated, with effects including a decrease in air permeability and water permeability and the accumulation of reducing substances and gases, which has further aggravated the problems of rice root poisoning and a decline in crop quality [14]. Therefore, constructing a reasonable soil tillage layer structure is of great significance for improving the above-mentioned soil problems, enhancing rice quality, and increasing yields.
In recent years, researchers have attempted to construct effective tillage layers in black soil through mechanical, chemical, and biological means. Typical chemical methods include the rational use of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilization techniques, and the application of soil conditioners. Typical biological means include the use of biofertilizer, the planting of nitrogen-fixing crops, and the introduction of earthworms and other soil animals. Although these methods are effective in specific soil environments, they require specific machinery and equipment for field application. The main methods suitable for field operations are mechanical means, such as rotary tillage (RT), shallow plowing (SP), deep plowing (DP), etc. [15,16,17]. Generally, the RT depth is 8–10 cm, the SP depth is 12–13 cm, and the DP depth is usually more than 20 cm [18]. RT and SP can be considered traditional tillage layer construction methods, while DP is used to improve the subsoil. The difference in tillage layer construction is that DP can break the plow pan, connecting the tillage layer and the subsoil into a whole and increasing the permeability of paddy fields [19]. Paradoxically, a broken plow subsoil layer during DP is an important means of preventing excessive water loss from paddy fields, and, with the relatively homogeneous mechanical composition of black soils and their good soil structure, it is important in considering whether the broken plow subsoil layer can be reconstructed effectively.
However, the long-term application of traditional methods, such as RT and SP, also has problems, such as thickening and upward shifting of the plow pan, which hinders the growth of rice roots. This contradictory problem ultimately leads to unclear response effects of different tillage layer construction methods on rice yields and quality, and an unclear mechanism for constructing effective tillage layers in paddy fields on black soil. Solving this dilemma is the key focus of this article. In addition, due to the rich groundwater resources in the Northeast Black Soil Region of China, waterlogging is likely to occur. High water levels can lead to insufficient accumulated temperature in paddy fields and poor drainage, which are also important factors affecting crop yields and quality [20].
In response to these contradictory problems, this study focused on mechanical tillage methods. DP, SP, and RT operations were carried out on paddy soil formed from black soil. Based on RT, a culvert pipe drainage (CD) experiment was conducted to lower the groundwater level. With the ultimate goal of rice yield and quality, this study compared the effects of multiple mechanical tillage methods on physical and chemical properties of the soil, such as porosity, bulk density, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These physical and chemical properties further affected root growth and ultimately influenced rice yields. By analyzing the effects of mechanical tillage on the soil’s physical and chemical properties, rice roots, and rice yields step by step, this article revealed the response mechanism of reasonable tillage layer construction in black soil paddy fields with regard to rice yields and quality. This mechanism provides key technical support for the healthy production of paddy fields, improvement of food yields, and security of food quality, which also provides important information for future agricultural practices.
To address these conflicting issues, this study focused on mechanical tillage methods. DP, SP, and RT operations were carried out on black soil-forming rice soils. On the basis of RT, the CD test was conducted to reduce the water table. The current state of research on the effects of mechanical tillage techniques on soil properties and rice yield in black soil rice fields has been detailed in the previous discussion. However, most of the current studies focus on the effect of a single tillage technique on a particular soil property, and there are fewer systematic studies on the linkage between soil structure, physicochemical properties, and root growth and yield under different tillage techniques. The objective of this study is to comprehensively and systematically reveal the effects of four mechanical tillage techniques, namely, RT, SP, DP, and CD, on the soil structure, physicochemical properties, root growth, and rice yield in black soil paddy fields. A synergistic theoretical framework of “mechanical disturbance-soil structure optimisation-soil chemical property improvement-root system development-volume enhancement” was constructed, which is also the feature and innovation of this study.
This study compared the effects of various mechanical tillage methods on soil physical and chemical properties such as porosity, bulk weight, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These physical and chemical properties further affect root growth and ultimately rice yield. In this paper, the mechanism of the counteraction of reasonable tillage layer construction on rice yield and quality in black soil paddy fields was revealed through step-by-step analyses of the effects of mechanical tillage on soil physical and chemical properties, rice root system, and rice yield. The mechanism provides key technical support for the healthy production of paddy fields, improving grain yield and guaranteeing grain quality, as well as important information for future agricultural practices.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Experimental Site and Duration

The experimental site was selected as the paddy field experimental area of the Water Conservancy Experimental Station in Anqing city, Heilongjiang Province, China (longitude 127°47′, latitude 47°15′). The average annual rainfall is 500 mm. The tested soil is black-soil-type paddy soil, and rice has been planted there for more than 20 years. The land preparation method has been a long-term, continuous RT for many years. The depth of RT was 8–10 cm, the average thickness of the tillage layer was 11.3 cm, and the average thickness of the subsoil layer was 10.5 cm. The experiment lasted for two years, covering 2019 and 2020.

2.2. Fundamental Properties of the Soil

The fundamental properties of the soil are shown in Table 1.

2.3. Experimental Design

The experiment adopted a large plot comparison scheme, setting four treatments (RT treatment, SP treatment, DP treatment, and CD treatment) to compare the changes in the soil’s physical and chemical properties, soil utilization rate, and yield in black soil paddy fields, as shown in Figure 1. The experiment lasted for two years, and the mechanical treatments were carried out after the autumn rice harvest. Each treatment plot was 40 m long and 30 m wide. The fertilization amount was the same for each treatment in the two-year experiment. The types of fertilizers were urea, diammonium phosphate, and potassium sulfate. The application amounts were calculated based on pure N, P2O5, and K2O, and were 150, 70, and 75 kg/hm2, respectively. The application method was as follows: N was applied in three stages as a base fertilizer, green return fertilizer, and panicle fertilizer, with an application ratio of 4:3:3; K fertilizer was applied as a base fertilizer and panicle fertilizer, with an application ratio of 3:2; P fertilizer was applied all at once as a base fertilizer. The base fertilizer was applied during the spring water land preparation of the paddy fields, with full layer fertilization. The top dressing was sprayed on the leaves during the green return period and booting stage. The top-dressing period for the K fertilizer was the same as the second top-dressing period for the N fertilizer, and the K fertilizer and N fertilizer were mixed and sprayed on the leaves. The paddy field irrigation management mode was a shallow, wet, dry intermittent irrigation mode; that is, during the shallow-water-layer stage, the water layer on the soil surface was maintained at 3–5 cm, and then gradually reached a moist state. At this time, there was no obvious water on the surface, but there was water in the footprints. When the ground was dry and the footprints were moist, irrigation was carried out again, and the water-layer depth was still 3–5 cm. The experimental schemes for the two years were consistent.
All mechanical operations were carried out after the autumn harvest of rice. After spring soaking, leveling operations were carried out using land leveling machinery with water harrow wheels. After the end of water leveling, after the natural settling of water in the field, the fertilizer spreading operation was carried out on the field surface. The fertilizer was in granular form, and the spreading of fertilizer was based on the conventional means of fertilizer application in local paddy production. The basic independent variables of the experimental design were mechanical ploughing method and sampling depth, and the sampling depth was divided into three sampling segments: 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm. Dependent variables included changes in soil physical properties, changes in soil chemical properties, changes in root system and yield, and five replicated tests were conducted for each index. Among them, the sampling for soil physical property testing was conducted in autumn after rice maturity, and the measurement indexes included changes in soil trophic ratio, bulk weight, soil porosity, soil aeration coefficient, and saturated water permeability coefficient. Sampling for soil chemical testing was also conducted in autumn after rice maturity, and measurements included soil organic matter, alkaline dissolved nitrogen, effective phosphorus, and quick-acting potassium. Root and yield measurements were conducted after rice maturity, and the test indicators included rice uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash, root vigor, and crop yield information. The objective was to find out how the physical properties of the soil affect crop uptake of soil active ingredients, which, in turn, improves root vigor and crop yield.
The tested rice variety was Longqingdao 3 of China (Harbin, Heilongjiang Province), and the specific mechanical treatment methods were as follows.
(1) RT treatment: A rotary tiller (produced by Xiangli Machinery Co., Ltd., Weifang, Shandong, China, model: GAN200, as shown in Figure 1a) was used for RT. The tillage depth was set to 10 cm. Then, in the spring of the next year, the field was flooded with water, and mechanical water land preparation was carried out.
The mechanical water leveling in this study was carried out using a land leveler with a water harrow wheel for land leveling operations. The specific method of land preparation was to release water in the paddy field, wait for the water to sink after releasing the water, and carry out the land preparation and leveling operation when the water surface covered two-thirds of the area of the test field.
(2) SP treatment: A self-developed paddy field deep plow was used for SP treatment (as shown in Figure 1b). The tillage depth was set to 20 cm. Then, before the paddy field was flooded with water in the spring of the next year, it was rotary-tilled with a rotary plow, flooded with water, and mechanically prepared.
(3) DP treatment: The machinery and method were the same as those of the SP treatment, but the tillage depth was set to 30 cm (as shown in Figure 1c).
(4) CD treatment: A large plot comparison was adopted. Due to the difference in mechanical operations between CD and other operation modes, the tillage scale was slightly different. Each plot was 60 m long and 60 m wide, as shown in Figure 1d. The irrigation management of the experimental area was the same, adopting the shallow wet–dry intermittent irrigation mode [21]. The subsurface pipe valves were opened for drainage during the late tillering stage of rice for field drying and at the initial maturity stage, and the valves were closed at other times. A 30 cm wide and 40–50 cm deep open ditch was dug, and the tillage-layer soil and the lower-layer soil were placed on both sides for layered backfilling. After adjusting the slope of the ditch bottom with fine sand, a polyvinyl-chloride pipe wrapped with a filter screen was placed flat at the bottom of the ditch and connected at the head and tail. A 10 cm thick layer of rice straw and rice husks was laid on the pipe as a filter material, and then, the soil was backfilled in layers after tamping. The outlet of the subsurface pipe was connected to an open ditch outside the plot, and a switch valve was installed.

2.4. Experimental Methods

(1) Soil sampling: A 60 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm soil profile was dug in the middle of the transverse direction. Undisturbed soil samples and chemical analysis samples were collected in layers with a 100 cm3 ring knife. The sampling layers were 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm. Three parallel samples were taken at each layer. The collected ring knives were sealed and brought back to the laboratory for standby.
(2) Chemical indicators: Soil sampling and testing were conducted after the plants had reached maturity, when the water had drained out of the field and reached a dry state, and dried naturally. The soil’s alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen was determined using the diffusion absorption method [22]; the soil’s available phosphorus content was determined using the sodium bicarbonate extraction method [23]; and the available potassium content was determined using the hydrochloric acid leaching AAS method [24]. Organic matter was determined using the potassium dichromate volumetric method.
(3) Physical indicators: The soil solid phase, liquid phase, and gas phase were measured with a soil DIK-1130 soil three phase measuring instrument (from Beijing Heyueda Technology Co. of China, Xi’an, China) [25]; the soil bulk density was measured using the ring knife method; the soil water content was measured with the oven drying method; the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured with a DIK-4012 soil permeability instrument (from Beijing Havistin Technology Co.); the soil aeration coefficient was measured with a DIK-5001 soil aeration instrument (from Guining Experimental Equipment Co. of China); and the soil texture composition was measured with an MS-2000 laser particle size analyzer (Malvern Instruments UK Ltd., Malvern, UK) [26].
(4) Rice root vigor: This was determined using the root wound flow method [27].
(5) Crop yield: Ten plants were taken from each treatment, and the root system and other traits were determined by an indoor seed test; the yield was measured in the field, and each treatment was harvested directly from the whole area using a Kubota harvester.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The experimental data listed in the figures and tables of this article are the arithmetic means of the experimental results measured over two years. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for the soil’s physical and chemical property data (such as soil three-phase ratio, bulk density, porosity, aeration coefficient, and saturated hydraulic conductivity, as well as organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium contents), rice root activity indicators (root bleeding volume), and yield related data (effective panicle number, grains per panicle, grain empty rate, etc.) obtained under different mechanical tillage treatments (RT, SP, DP, and CD treatment). Analysis of variance can be used to evaluate the significance of differences among different treatment groups [28] and to judge the overall impact of different tillage methods on the above-mentioned indicators. If the results of the analysis of variance show significant differences, a least significant difference (LSD) t-test could be further used for pairwise comparisons. For each type of data index at each soil depth, the differences between different treatments were accurately compared. For rice-yield-related data, such as the effective panicle number under different treatments, after the analysis of variance showed significant differences, an LSD t-test was used to determine the significance of differences in the effective panicle number among the treatments. To ensure the reliability and validity of the data, all data were statistically analyzed, and intuitive charts (such as bar charts, line charts, etc.) were drawn to display the change trends of each index under different treatments, facilitating a clearer comparison of the effects of different mechanical tillage methods.

3. Results

In this study, different mechanical tillage conditions had differential impacts on the soil structure. The results indicated that the DP treatment had the most remarkable effect in terms of improving the physical and chemical properties of the soil. In this research, the local conventional mechanical land preparation method (that is, RT operation) was used as the control group. In terms of soil structure, compared with RT, the proportion of the soil solid phase under DP conditions decreased by 1.86–3.90%. The soil bulk density in the 10–20 cm soil layer decreased by 0.08 g/cm3, and, in the 20–30 cm soil layer, it was 0.03 g/cm3 lower than that for rotary tillage.

3.1. Changes in Soil’s Physical Properties

Figure 2 presents the changes in the soil three-phase ratio, bulk density, and soil porosity. From Figure 2a,b, it can be seen that, in the 0–30 cm soil layer, the soil solid phase ratio indicators of the SP and DP treatments decreased by 0.74–4.80% and 1.86–3.90%, respectively, compared with the RT treatment. In the 10–20 cm soil layer, the soil liquid phase ratio of the SP and DP treatments increased by 1.74% and 2.67%. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, the soil gas phase ratio of the SP and DP treatments increased by 0.95% and 0.64%.
It can be seen from Figure 2c,d that, compared with the RT treatment, the soil bulk density under other mechanical treatment methods decreased significantly with the deepening of the soil layer. In the 10–20 cm soil layer, the soil bulk density of the SP treatment decreased by 0.09 g/cm3, and that of the DP treatment decreased by 0.08 g/cm3. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, the soil bulk density of the DP treatment decreased by 0.03 g/cm3.
As can be seen from Figure 2e,f, the soil porosity of the SP and DP treatments both showed an increasing trend compared with that of the RT treatment. In the 0–30 cm soil layer, the increase range of the SP treatment was 0.44–4.80%, and that of the DP treatment was 1.86–3.93%. In the second year, the changing trends of various physical indicators of the soil under different treatments were basically the same as those in the first year. The SP and DP treatments improved the physical properties of the paddy soil in black soil regions, which was beneficial to the growth and development of the roots of rice plants. The data of the DP treatment were more obvious.
Figure 3 shows the changes in the soil aeration coefficient and saturated hydraulic conductivity under different mechanical tillage methods. Both the soil aeration coefficient and saturated hydraulic conductivity exhibited an increasing trend. In the 10–20 cm soil layer, compared with RT, the soil aeration coefficient and saturated hydraulic conductivity under the SP treatment increased by 4.04 times and 2.71 times, respectively, and those under the DP treatment increased by 4.42 times and 2.14 times, respectively. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, the DP treatment increased the soil aeration coefficient and saturated hydraulic conductivity by 1.86 times and 2.87 times, respectively, compared with the CD technology.
In this study, mechanical tillage method and soil depth were used as independent variables, and solid phase, liquid phase, gas phase, porosity, permeability, and water permeability were used as dependent variables. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SPSS 27.0 software.
In the analysis of solid phase, in terms of tillage practices (F = 125.717, p < 0.001), the RT treatment group had the highest mean value (60.71), which was significantly better than the CD, SP, and DP groups (p < 0.05), indicating that the solid phase ratio was significantly higher in the RT treatments, whereas a high percentage of soil solids was detrimental to the growth and development of the roots of the crop, i.e., RT treatments were not conducive to the building of the soil pore space. In terms of the liquid phase, the main effect and interaction of the mechanical tillage method and tillage depth were highly significant (p < 0.001), with 99.6% model explanation (R2 = 0.996). Duncan’s test showed that the liquid phase content of the CD treatment group (43.43%) was significantly higher than that of the other treatment types (4.77–12.35% in the RT/SP/DP group), and that the mechanism may be associated with the gradient analysis of the treatment depth showed that the liquid phase content in the 0–10 cm layer was 48.19%, which was significantly higher than that in the deeper layers of 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm (19–25%), which was in line with the dominant “surface-regulation effect” of root distribution. For gas phase analysis, soil gas phase parameters were significantly modulated by tillage and soil depth, with the main effect (F = 125.717; F = 38.417) and the interaction (F = 18.177) being highly significant (p < 0.001), and the model explained 97.9% of the model (R2 = 0.979). Duncan’s test showed that the percentage of the gas phase in the rotary tillage treatment (RT group) was significantly higher than that in the conventional tillage group, which could be attributed to the reduction in pore continuity by mechanical disturbance. In terms of porosity, tillage practices and soil depth had highly significant moderating effects on soil porosity, with the main effect (F = 303.653; F = 1225.550) and the interaction (F = 176.276) reaching highly significant levels (p < 0.001), and the model explaining as much as 99.7% (R2 = 0.997). Duncan’s test showed that the CD treatment group’s Porosity (49.34%) was significantly higher than the other treatments (with the RT group being the lowest at 20.5%). The analysis of treatment depth showed that the porosity of the 0–10 cm layer was 51.80%, which was significantly higher than that of the deeper layer, in line with the vertical gradient law, indicating that the shallow layer had higher pore connectivity. The combination of CD operation and 0–10 cm produced a synergistic effect, with a porosity of 55.12%, which is helpful to provide new solutions for the repair of soil tillage layer construction.
In the analysis of air and water permeability, two-way ANOVA revealed that tillage depth was the core regulator of soil permeability (F = 29.919, p < 0.001) with 85.7% model explanation (R2 = 0.857), while there was no significant effect of tillage type and interactions (p > 0.05). Duncan’s test showed that the air permeability of the 0–10 cm layer (6.43) was significantly higher than 10–20 cm (3.32) and 20–30 cm layers (0.89). The non-significant treatment type effect may be due to the fact that although the CD treatment enhanced the total porosity (9.3% increase), the microporosity percentage increased by 22%, which weakened the effective air permeability. The analysis revealed that shallow treatments resulted in a significant increase in permeability, but attention needs to be paid to the anaerobic barrier formed by the persistently low permeability of deeper soils, which in turn inhibits deep root growth and development. In terms of water permeability, tillage practice (F = 5.158, p = 0.016) and depth (F = 19.325, p < 0.001) had independent main effects on soil water permeability, with a non-significant interaction (p = 0.304) and a model explanation of 83.9% (R2 = 0.839). Duncan’s test showed that water permeability in the 0–10 cm layer (7.41) was significantly higher than the deeper layer (10–20 cm:3.40; 20–30 cm:1.51). The water permeability of the DP group (5.75) was significantly better than that of the CD group (1.70) among the treatment types, and this result verified that the DP treatment was favorable for the generation of large pores.

3.2. Changes in Soil Chemical Properties

Figure 4 shows the changes in soil chemical properties under four tillage methods. It can be seen from Figure 4 that RT is not conducive to the improvement of soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium content (Figure 4a–d).
In the 10–20 cm soil layer, the contents of soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium under the SP treatment are slightly higher than those under the RT treatment. In the 10–30 cm soil layer, the contents of soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the DP treatment are higher than those in the RT treatment. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, compared with the SP and CD technologies, the soil organic matter in the DP treatment increased by 0.56% and 1.75%, respectively. In the first year, the contents of soil organic matter, alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the RT treatment gradually decreased from the surface layer to the deep layer. Since black soil has a relatively thick black soil layer, the differences in soil nutrients among different soil layers are not very obvious. Tillage does not cause a significant decline in soil nutrients in the tillage layer, and the nutrient content in the deep layer soil showed an increasing trend compared with that in RT. The changing trends of soil nutrients in each treatment in the second year were basically the same as those in the first year. The DP treatment made the soil nutrients in each layer of the black soil type paddy soil more homogeneous, which helps rice plants to absorb soil nutrients during different growth stages.
Mechanical tillage method and soil depth were used as independent variables, and potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter were used as dependent variables. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using SPSS 27.0 software.
In the analysis of potassium, two-way ANOVA revealed that tillage type (F = 8.921, p = 0.002), depth (F = 42.145, p < 0.001), and their interaction (F = 12.445, p < 0.001) significantly regulated soil potassium content, with a model explanation of 93.9% (R2 = 0.939). The Duncan test showed that the potassium content of the DP treatment group (120.90 mg/kg) was significantly higher than the other treatments, and the mechanical disturbance under this treatment promoted the release of mineral potassium with the activation of potash by root secretion, while the potassium enrichment in the 0–10 cm layer (124.27 mg/kg) was matched with the root uptake layer. In the analysis of phosphorus, it was revealed that tillage practice (F = 342.900, p < 0.001), depth (F = 168.991, p < 0.001) and its interaction (F = 106.520, p < 0.001) had a highly significant effect on the soil phosphorus content, with a model explanation of 99.4% (R2 = 0.994). Duncan’s test showed that the CD treatment group had a significantly lower phosphorus content (16.72 mg/kg) than the other treatments; the 0–10 cm layer was enriched in phosphorus (32.35 mg/kg). In the analysis of nitrogen, it showed that depth (F = 554.732, p < 0.001) and its interaction with tillage practices (F = 161.657, p < 0.001) had a highly significant effect on soil nitrogen content, with 99.4% of the model explained (R2 = 0.994), while the main effect was not significant (p = 0.093). The Duncan test showed that the 0–10 cm layer (205.08 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that in the deep layer (20–30 cm:143.42 mg/kg, difference 43.1%), and the interaction analysis found that the DP treatment and the 0–10 cm combination produced a synergistic gain, which originated from the fact that the deep pine increased the porosity, optimized oxygen flux, and transported apoplastic material through the fissure to stimulate the microbial activity in the deep layer, which contributed to the deep layer organic N mineralization upward shift.
In the analysis of organic matter, it was shown that tillage type (F = 0.396, p = 0.758), depth (F = 1.584, p = 0.245), and its interaction (F = 0.280, p = 0.935) did not have a significant effect on the soil organic matter content, and the model had a low degree of explanation (R2 = 0.335), which may be directly related to the short experimental period, and needs to be subsequently researched further.

3.3. Effects on Soil Utilization Rate

This study characterized the soil utilization rate of rice from two aspects: the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by rice and the root activity. Figure 5 shows the effects of different mechanical tillage methods on the roots.
The root system is the main body of nutrient uptake, and, the stronger the root system, the more favorable it is for nutrient uptake in the soil. In particular, different mechanical tillage practices have different effects on the soil structure. A good soil structure is very favorable to the root system. Loose and airy soil with good agglomeration is conducive to root extension and interspersion, increasing the contact area between the root system and the soil so that the root system can grow and develop better. If the root system is well developed, its absorption area increases, and it can more efficiently absorb the soil nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other types of nutrients. Moreover, the root system can enhance the resilience of rice and safeguard the health of the plant. With a sufficient supply of nutrients and good resilience, rice grows vigorously, the effective number of spikes increases, the number of grains in spikes increases, the weight of 1000 grains improves, and, ultimately, yields are improved.

3.3.1. Effects on the Absorption of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium by Rice

As can be seen from Figure 5a,b, the nitrogen content in rice grains can be shown in the order of DP > SP > RT > CD, and the potassium content in rice grains in the order of DP > SP > RT > CD. This indicates that DP is beneficial for plants to absorb nitrogen and potassium from the deep layers of soil. The phosphorus content in rice grains had a treatment order of SP > DP > RT > CD, suggesting that SP is beneficial for plants when absorbing phosphorus from deep-layer soil.

3.3.2. Effects on the Root Activity of Rice

The amount of root bleeding in rice directly reflects the ability of rice to actively absorb nutrients and is an important indicator of root activity [29]. As can be seen from Figure 5c, the root bleeding amounts of rice under the DP and SP treatments increased by 12.17% and 6.09%, respectively, compared with those under the RT treatment. As shown in Figure 5d, the root growth amount and vertical root length of rice under the SP and DP treatments were higher. The dry matter mass and root length of the roots under the SP treatment increased by 6.53% and 10.81%, and those under the DP treatment increased by 16.33% and 21.62%. Comprehensive analysis shows that the DP treatment helps to increase the root bleeding amount of rice, is beneficial for improving the root activity of rice, and promotes the growth of rice roots.
As shown in Table 2, the SP and DP treatments can increase the effective panicle number and grains per panicle of rice and reduce the grain empty rate. In the first year, the measured yields of rice under the SP and DP treatments increased by 6.91% and 9.81%, respectively, compared with those under the RT treatment, and, in the second year, they increased by 6.59% and 7.84%, respectively. The difference in the yield-increasing amplitude between the SP and DP treatments compared with the RT treatment in the second year was not as obvious as that in the first year, but the yield-increasing trends in the two-year experiment were consistent, indicating that increasing the plowing depth has a certain positive effect on increasing rice yields.

4. Discussion

Mechanical tillage can be used to construct a reasonable tillage layer to varying degrees, providing an environment suitable for rice root fertility and increasing nutrient storage capacity, and there is a strong correlation between rice yield and the construction of the soil tillage layer [30]. The results of this study also show that a reasonable mechanical tillage mode could construct an effective soil tillage layer, improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, further promote the absorption of soil nutrients by roots, aid in the vertical growth of rice roots, and effectively enhance lodging resistance. At the same time, robust rice roots can improve the soil utilization rate, increase the absorption of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and ultimately increase the rice yield. Therefore, this study established a mechanism diagram of the response of soil tillage layer construction to crop growth status, as shown in Figure 6. The following further analyzes the effects of different tillage methods on the soil’s physical and chemical properties and soil nutrient utilization rates.

4.1. Effects of Different Treatment Methods on Soil’s Physical Properties

The physical properties of the soil directly affect the growth, reproduction, and metabolic functions of organisms living in it [31]. The three-phase ratio is an important parameter for evaluating the mutual relationship of soil water, fertilizer, air, and heat, and is a key factor in determining soil fertility and crop growth [32,33]. Under the DP treatment, the soil solid phase decreased by 1.86–3.90%, and both the liquid phase and the gas phase increased, increasing the air permeability and water permeability of the soil, which is beneficial for root respiration.
The size of soil pores is an important manifestation of soil’s physical properties [34]. Compared with other treatments, the soil porosity increased by 2.42–4.93% under the DP treatment. Good soil pores can provide better water permeability and air permeability for plant growth, are beneficial for the “dry-soil-effect” of the soil and promote the mineralization and decomposition of nutrients in the tillage layer [35]. This study verified that DP can improve soil’s physical properties, making the amount of available soil nutrients higher than with other treatments. Some scholars have used DP technology to improve aged paddy fields and achieved good yield-increasing effects. However, DP in sandy soil may cause water and fertilizer leakage [36]. The paddy fields in the Sanjiang Plain of Northeast China are mainly distributed in low plain areas. The soil is heavily textured and has poor permeability, poor drainage, and a low redox potential, and the roots of rice are vulnerable to harm from reducing substances. Some scholars argue that DP is an effective measure to reduce the content of reducing gases. In addition, in paddy fields with long-term RT land preparation, the plow pan moves upward, and the tillage layer thickness is about 10–12 cm, which affects the growth of rice roots and makes the rice prone to lodging. DP expands the living area of the roots, which is beneficial for roots to absorb nutrients from the deep-layer soil, and appropriate DP is beneficial for the nutrient accumulation of rice [37]. The DP treatment technology can construct a better tillage layer. At the same time, good soil physical properties could also improve the soil’s chemical properties.

4.2. Effects of Different Treatment Methods on Soil’s Chemical Properties

Soil organic matter is an important component of the solid phase of the soil and a major source of plant nutrition. It can promote the growth and development of plants, improve the physical properties of the soil, and promote the activities of microorganisms and soil organisms, as well as facilitate the decomposition of nutrient elements in the soil [38]. Compared with RT, the DP treatment technology increased the organic matter in the tillage layer by 0.56%, and the upper and lower soil layers tended to be homogeneous. Soil organic matter is also the most important nutrient reservoir for soil N and P, and the main source of plant-available N and P. N, P, and K elements are essential for plant growth and development. The increase in the proportion of large soil pores is conducive to the full dissolution of available N, P, and K in the soil solution, and their presence allows these effective elements to be absorbed and utilized by plant roots.
Available nitrogen is the main element used by plants to synthesize proteins, folic acid, and chlorophyll [39]. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, the content of available nitrogen in the DP treatment was 37.27 mg·kg−1 higher than that in the RT treatment. Available phosphorus can promote the formation and growth of early roots [40]. Comprehensive data show that the content of available phosphorus is relatively high in the 10–20 cm soil layer. Available potassium is a major nutrient element for plants and is also one of the elements that often affect crop yields due to an insufficient supply in the soil [41]. In the 20–30 cm soil layer, only the DP and CD technologies had an available potassium content higher than 100 mg·kg−1. Sufficient available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements are beneficial for rice to absorb soil nutrients during different growth stages, improving the quality and yield of rice [42]. The interaction of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil during rice production and development has a crucial impact on rice production and yield [43], and a solution to improving these lies in reasonable mechanical tillage methods.

4.3. Effect of Mechanical Tillage Practices on Soil Nutrient Utilization and Yield

The effective absorption of soil nutrients can improve the soil utilization rate [44,45]. Through data analysis, the nitrogen content in rice grains shows a treatment order of DP > SP > RT > CD, and the potassium content in rice grains also shows an order of DP > SP > RT > CD, indicating that DP is beneficial for plants to absorb nitrogen and potassium from deep-layer soil. The phosphorus content in rice grains shows a treatment order of SP > DP > RT > CD, indicating that SP is beneficial for plants to absorb phosphorus from the deep-layer soil. Comprehensive analysis shows that increasing the plowing layer thickness is beneficial for the absorption and utilization of soil elements by rice roots and can increase the soil utilization rate.
The nutrients required for crop growth and development are absorbed by the roots. Well-developed plant roots not only contribute to crop growth and prevent lodging but also help to improve crop quality and yield [46,47]. According to the analysis of experimental data, compared with other treatments, the DP treatment technology can effectively improve the soil structure, thereby constructing a more reasonable tillage layer, increasing the water permeability and air permeability of the soil, and improving the utilization rate of soil organic matter and fertilizers by plant roots. The data from this study also show that DP operations can more fully absorb available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil.
The root bleeding volume is an indicator of the root vitality coefficient of plants. Excessively high root bleeding volume may lead to the necrosis of crop roots and affect crop growth and development [48]. The root bleeding volume of rice under the DP treatment increased by 12.17%, which is helpful for improving the root activity of rice [49]. The root growth amount and vertical root length of rice under the DP treatment were higher than those under the RT treatment. The DP treatment increased by 16.33% and 21.62%, respectively, compared with the RT.
These indicators are ultimately reflected in the data on crop root growth and yield. In the first year, the measured yields of rice under the SP and DP treatments increased by 6.91% and 9.81%, respectively, compared with those under the RT treatment, and, in the second year, they increased by 6.59% and 7.84%, respectively. The data show that DP could indeed effectively construct a reasonable tillage layer in black soil paddy fields. It is worth noting that this study had a two-year experimental cycle, and the data from the two years showed that DP had a significant yield-increasing effect on black soil paddy fields in Northeast China. However, the long-term effect of DP still needs to be further verified. Moreover, DP operations consume a large amount of power, have high costs, and may cause problems such as water leakage in rice fields. Therefore, the question of how to establish a reasonable field promotion model still needs further follow-up verification.

5. Conclusions

This study investigated the response mechanisms of four mechanical tillage techniques, namely, rotary tillage (RT), shallow plowing (SP), deep plowing (DP), and culvert pipe drainage (CD), on rice yields. This study verified that, with a two-year cycle, DP operations in black soil paddy fields could improve the soil structure and thus increase yields. Specifically, the following conclusions were drawn from this study.
The DP treatment technology could promote the growth of rice roots. In the 0–30 cm soil layer, compared with RT, the proportion of the soil solid phase in the DP treatment decreased by 1.86–3.90%. The soil bulk density in the 10–20 cm soil layer decreased by 0.08 g/cm3, and, in the 20–30 cm soil layer, it decreased by 0.03 g/cm3. The soil porosity in the 0–30 cm soil layer increased by 1.86–3.93%.
The improvement of the soil structure in black soil paddy fields helped to enhance the chemical properties of the soil and enhance the contents of available N, P, and K in the tillage layer, especially the content of available N. The content of available N in the DP treatment was 37.27 mg·kg−1 higher than that in the RT, which played an important role in promoting the growth of rice during the growth period. Good soil physical and chemical properties helped to enhance the absorption of chemical elements by rice roots. In the first year of the experiment, the measured yields of rice under the SP and DP treatments increased by 6.91% and 9.81%, respectively, compared with those under the RT treatment, and, in the second year, they increased by 6.59% and 7.84%, respectively, verifying the response effect of plowing operations on rice yields. CD technology could improve the drainage of paddy fields. By establishing continuous gas exchange channels, it could effectively increase crop yields.
This study systematically revealed the improvement mechanisms and yield response laws of different tillage technologies on black soil paddy fields, providing an important scientific basis for improving the cultivated land quality of black soil paddy fields and increasing crop yields. It also provided theoretical and technical references for sustainable agriculture in the global black soil belt.

Author Contributions

Writing—original draft, B.B.; data curation, Q.W., B.B. and J.L.; formal analysis, Q.W., Y.L. and J.L.; methodology, Q.W. and J.Z.; investigation, Q.W., B.B., Y.L. and J.Z.; supervision, B.B. and B.W.; software, B.B.; writing—review and editing, B.W.; conceptualization, B.W.; funding acquisition, Q.W. and B.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Science Fund Project (B.W.; grant number 3220152034), National Key R&D Program Projects for the 14th Five Year Plan (Q.W.; grant number 2022YFD1500800), and Jilin Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security’s “Postdoctoral Talent Support in Jilin Province” Project (B.W.; grant number 820231342418).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article, and further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

Our thanks to all the authors cited in this paper and the anonymous referees for their helpful comments and suggestions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Diagram of field operations. (a) Rotary tillage. (b) Shallow ploughing. (c) Deep ploughing. (d) Culvert pipe drainage.
Figure 1. Diagram of field operations. (a) Rotary tillage. (b) Shallow ploughing. (c) Deep ploughing. (d) Culvert pipe drainage.
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Figure 2. Changes in soil tripartite ratio, bulk weight, and soil porosity. (a) Soil tripartite ratio in the first year. (b) Soil tripartite ratio in the second year. (c) Soil bulk weight in the first year. (d) Soil bulk weight in the second year. (e) Soil porosity in the first year. (f) Soil porosity in the second year. The different lowercase letters in the figure indicate statistical differences in tillage practices as core regulators (p < 0.05). The different capital letters in the figure indicate the statistical difference of soil depth as the core regulator (p < 0.05).
Figure 2. Changes in soil tripartite ratio, bulk weight, and soil porosity. (a) Soil tripartite ratio in the first year. (b) Soil tripartite ratio in the second year. (c) Soil bulk weight in the first year. (d) Soil bulk weight in the second year. (e) Soil porosity in the first year. (f) Soil porosity in the second year. The different lowercase letters in the figure indicate statistical differences in tillage practices as core regulators (p < 0.05). The different capital letters in the figure indicate the statistical difference of soil depth as the core regulator (p < 0.05).
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Figure 3. Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient under different mechanical tillage practices. (a) Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient in the first year. (b) Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient in the second year.
Figure 3. Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient under different mechanical tillage practices. (a) Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient in the first year. (b) Changes in soil aeration coefficient and saturated permeability coefficient in the second year.
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Figure 4. Changes in soil chemical properties. (a) Fast-acting phosphorus. (b) Fast-acting potassium. (c) Organic matter. (d) Fast-acting nitrogen.
Figure 4. Changes in soil chemical properties. (a) Fast-acting phosphorus. (b) Fast-acting potassium. (c) Organic matter. (d) Fast-acting nitrogen.
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Figure 5. Effect of different mechanical tillage on root system. (a) Root display. (b) Soil utilization. (c) Root wound flow. (d) Root dry weight and root length.
Figure 5. Effect of different mechanical tillage on root system. (a) Root display. (b) Soil utilization. (c) Root wound flow. (d) Root dry weight and root length.
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Figure 6. Soil tillage construction mechanism for yield increase. Red arrows indicate effect enhancement and blue arrows act as an indicator guide.
Figure 6. Soil tillage construction mechanism for yield increase. Red arrows indicate effect enhancement and blue arrows act as an indicator guide.
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Table 1. Fundamental information about the soil.
Table 1. Fundamental information about the soil.
Soil Depth (cm)Organic Matter (mg/kg)Available N (mg/kg)Available P (mg/kg)Available K (mg/kg)pH ValueCEC cmol(+)/kgParticle Composition (%)
2–0.02 mm0.02–0.002 mm0–0.002 mm
0–1041.8198.2936.22112.066.4536.2437.332.330.4
10–2039.3175.2433.49101.56.5728.6634.932.331.8
20–3036.9152.5930.2596.937.0226.643237.430.6
Table 2. Data related to crop yields under the three tillage practices.
Table 2. Data related to crop yields under the three tillage practices.
YearDisposeNumber of Units per Square MetreNumber of Grains on Each PlantSeed-Set Percentage (%)
The first yearRT504.12 ± 20.33105.11 ± 11.2214.32 ± 1.22
SP565.43 ± 26.13122.34 ± 6.8812.78 ± 1.13
DP558.64 ± 30.12114.23 ± 7.4512.33 ± 1.26
The second yearRT524.09 ± 21.56115.21 ± 8.9811.45 ± 1.57
SP557.12 ± 30.78127.67 ± 7.8612.12 ± 2.02
DP568.34 ± 26.55119.34 ± 6.679.83 ± 1.35
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Wang, Q.; Bai, B.; Liu, Y.; Wu, B.; Li, J.; Zou, J. Research into the Mechanical Tillage Regulation Mechanisms of the Soil Structure in Black Soil Paddy Fields. Agriculture 2025, 15, 1145. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111145

AMA Style

Wang Q, Bai B, Liu Y, Wu B, Li J, Zou J. Research into the Mechanical Tillage Regulation Mechanisms of the Soil Structure in Black Soil Paddy Fields. Agriculture. 2025; 15(11):1145. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111145

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Qiuju, Bingqi Bai, Yuping Liu, Baoguang Wu, Jingyang Li, and Jiahe Zou. 2025. "Research into the Mechanical Tillage Regulation Mechanisms of the Soil Structure in Black Soil Paddy Fields" Agriculture 15, no. 11: 1145. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111145

APA Style

Wang, Q., Bai, B., Liu, Y., Wu, B., Li, J., & Zou, J. (2025). Research into the Mechanical Tillage Regulation Mechanisms of the Soil Structure in Black Soil Paddy Fields. Agriculture, 15(11), 1145. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15111145

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