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Agronomy
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Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality...
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Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 6574

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiatun Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Interests: water-saving irrigation; agricultural water management; model simulation
Prof. Dr. Xiaobo Gu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Interests: soil water; groundwater; crop modeling; data fusion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tillage practices play a prominent role in regulating soil structures, increasing soil fertility and water availability, and improving the yield and quality of crops. We are therefore planning a Special Issue of Agronomy on “Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops”, which will focus on research and advancements in tillage methods and agriculture management that promote sustainable agriculture and improvements to soil health. Some examples of cutting-edge research areas in this field include conservation agriculture, straw mulching, and plastic film mulching. This Special Issue invites original research, model simulations, and applications and reviews of tillage methods including, but not limited to, the following topics:

  1. No-till subsoiling practices, ridge tillage, conservation tillage, etc.;
  2. Straw mulching and plastic film mulching practices;
  3. Effects of tillage methods on soil micro-environments and soil fertility;
  4. Tillage effects on plant growth, yields, and water use efficiency;
  5. Model simulations and applications to determine the effects of various tillage methods on WUE and crop production.

Dr. Jiatun Xu
Prof. Dr. Xiaobo Gu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant growth
  • crop productivity
  • soil fertility
  • agroecosystems
  • plant–soil relationships
  • sustainable agricultural practices

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2932 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Impact of Green Manure Incorporation on Cotton Yield, Soil Fertility, and Net Eco–Economic Benefits
by Xuewen Wei, Dulin Qin, Zujun Yin, Guoping Wang, Lin Li, Lu Feng and Qinqing Xu
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030559 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 581
Abstract
Incorporating green manure is a vital strategy for optimizing cropping systems and improving soil quality. However, it is unclear whether the effects of different types of green manure on subsequent cotton yield and soil fertility improvement are uniform. This study evaluated the effects [...] Read more.
Incorporating green manure is a vital strategy for optimizing cropping systems and improving soil quality. However, it is unclear whether the effects of different types of green manure on subsequent cotton yield and soil fertility improvement are uniform. This study evaluated the effects of three green manure incorporation treatments over a two-year cropping cycle (Chinese violet-cotton-Chinese violet-cotton (T1), rapeseed-cotton-rapeseed-cotton (T2), and ryegrass-cotton-hairy vetch-cotton (T3)) on cotton yield and yield components. These treatments were also compared with the winter fallow-cotton (T0) to analyze differences in soil nutrients and net ecological–economic benefits. No significant differences in cotton yield or yield components were observed among the green manure incorporation treatments. However, averaged across two years, T1 produced a seed cotton yield 8.1% higher than T2 and 3.9% higher than T3. T2 and T3 significantly enhanced soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, organic matter, and total humus content compared to T0. Notably, T3 increased these parameters by 18.7, 23.9, and 26.8%, respectively. Additionally, T3 achieved the highest net ecological–economic benefit, exceeding T0 by $405/ha. This study highlights the potential of green manure to enhance soil fertility and ecological–economic sustainability in cotton fields. Further research is required to evaluate its long-term benefits and broader implications for sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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26 pages, 4645 KiB  
Article
Linking Soil Fertility and Production Constraints with Local Knowledge and Practices for Two Different Mangrove Swamp Rice Agroecologies, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa
by Matilda Merkohasanaj, Nuno Cortez, Cristina Cunha-Queda, Anna Andreetta, Viriato Cossa, Francisco José Martín-Peinado, Marina Padrão Temudo and Luis F. Goulao
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020342 - 28 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 815
Abstract
Mangrove swamp rice (MSR) production is critical for the diet of small farmers of coastal Guinea-Bissau. In mangrove swamp agroecosystems, rice is grown during the rainy season when freshwater and nutrients are abundant. However, small-scale farmers face challenges like unpredictable rainfall and rising [...] Read more.
Mangrove swamp rice (MSR) production is critical for the diet of small farmers of coastal Guinea-Bissau. In mangrove swamp agroecosystems, rice is grown during the rainy season when freshwater and nutrients are abundant. However, small-scale farmers face challenges like unpredictable rainfall and rising sea levels, which increase soil salinity and acidity. This study aims to assess soil physical–chemical properties, paired with farmers’ local practices, to evaluate fertility constraints, and to support sustainable soil–plant management practices. This co-designed research contributes to filling a gap concerning the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices adapted to specific contexts in West Africa. In two regions, Oio (center) and Tombali (south), rice yields were measured in semi-controlled trials both in two agroecological settings: Tidal Mangrove (TM) and Associated Mangrove (AM) fields. 380 soil samples were collected, and rice growing parameters were assessed during the 2021 and 2022 rice sowing, transplanting, and flowering periods. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Multivariate Regression Analysis (MRA) were applied to understand trends and build fertility proxies in predicting yields. Significant spatial and temporal variability in the soil properties between agroecologies was found. Salinity constraints in Oio TMs limit production to an average of 110 g/m2, compared to 250 g/m2 in Tombali. Yield predictions account for 81% and 56.9% of the variance in TMs and AMs, respectively. Variables such as organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and precipitation positively influence yields, whereas sand content, pH, and iron oxides show a negative effect. This study advances the understanding of MSR production in Guinea-Bissau and underscores the importance of incorporating farmers’ knowledge of their diverse and complex production systems to effectively address these challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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24 pages, 4125 KiB  
Article
Responses of Soil Profile Hydrology, Structure and Microbial Respiration to Organic Amendments Under Different Tillage Systems on the Loess Plateau
by Lili Zhao, Lusheng Li, Xiangjie Chen, Yanbin Li, Jiankun Ge and Xiaowen Wang
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010250 - 20 Jan 2025
Viewed by 709
Abstract
The combined effects of tillage and organic amendments on microbial respiration and its contribution to soil hydraulic conductivity are still uncertain in the 0–40 cm layer of a loess soil. We conducted a two-year field experiment to explore the effects of organic amendments, [...] Read more.
The combined effects of tillage and organic amendments on microbial respiration and its contribution to soil hydraulic conductivity are still uncertain in the 0–40 cm layer of a loess soil. We conducted a two-year field experiment to explore the effects of organic amendments, tillage and their interaction on soil microbial respiration, aggregate stability, pore parameters, and hydraulic conductivity on the Loess Plateau. Three tillage methods (conventional tillage (CT), deep tillage (DT) and no tillage (NT)) plus five fertilizer treatments (mineral fertilizer (control) alone and along with 20 t ha−1 wheat straw (MWS), wheat husk (MWH), farmyard soil (MFS) and bioorganic fertilizer (MBF)) were set up as experimental treatments. The findings demonstrated that the organic amendments significantly increased the soil microbial respiration and saturated hydraulic conductivity compared to the control in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers. Soil microbial respiration had indirect effects on hydraulic conductivity by improving the water aggregate stability and macroporosity. Additionally, the interaction effects of tillage and organic amendments on the pore and hydrological parameters were significant in the 20–40 cm layer. NT-MBF resulted in the greatest saturated hydraulic conductivity, which was directly correlated with the soil’s strong pore organization. Given the issue of subsurface soil compaction in our study area, it is recommended that local farmers adopt NT-MBF to enhance the soil’s microbial, structural and hydrological properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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18 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
Effects of Film-Bottomed Treatment on Absorbability and Translocation of Nitrogen in Spring Wheat in Arid Area
by Zizhen Li, Xiaolei Zhou, Qing Tian, Low Pak Sum, Yuee Yan and Xujiao Zhou
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010240 - 19 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 809
Abstract
Plastic film-bottomed treatment (FBT) is a critical agricultural practice in arid regions, aimed at enhancing crop productivity by improving soil moisture retention and nutrient availability. However, the effects of different depths of film-bottomed treatment (DFBT) on nitrogen (N) absorption and translocation in spring [...] Read more.
Plastic film-bottomed treatment (FBT) is a critical agricultural practice in arid regions, aimed at enhancing crop productivity by improving soil moisture retention and nutrient availability. However, the effects of different depths of film-bottomed treatment (DFBT) on nitrogen (N) absorption and translocation in spring wheat remain inadequately understood. We conducted a field experiment on sandy soil to investigate the effects of different DFBT depths (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 cm) and on total N absorption amount (TNAA), total N translocation amount (TNTA) in all nutritive organs, grain nitrogen content (GN), and grain yield (GY). Morphological measurements included GY, GN, TNAA, and TNTA in the stem, sheath, leaf, spike axis, kernel husk (SAKH), and culm. The results showed that FBT significantly reduced soil moisture loss, with the 100 cm depth reducing soil leakage by 59.6% (p < 0.001). At the flowering stage, nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDF) and soil nitrogen (NDS) were significantly higher at the 80 cm depth (p < 0.001). At maturity, the total nitrogen absorption amount (TNAA) and translocation amount (TNTA) in the main stem and across nutrient organs were significantly higher under the 80 cm DFBT (p < 0.001), leading to improved nitrogen use efficiency. The correlation between TNTA and GN was strongest at 80 cm (p < 0.001). Grain yield (GY) and GN were optimized at intermediate depths, particularly at 80 cm, suggesting this depth provides an optimal balance between water retention and drainage efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing DFBT depth, particularly at 80 cm, to achieve enhanced water retention, efficient nitrogen utilization, and improved crop productivity in arid agricultural systems. This research provides critical insights into sustainable agricultural practices under water-limited conditions, offering practical guidance for improving food security in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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32 pages, 10269 KiB  
Article
Impact of Ridge Tillage and Mulching on Water Dynamics of Summer Maize Fields Under Climate Change in the Semi-Arid Region of Northwestern Liaoning, China
by Yao Li, Wanting Zhang, Mengxi Bai, Jiayu Wu, Chenmengyuan Zhu and Yujuan Fu
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 3032; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14123032 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 759
Abstract
The ridge–furrow plastic mulching technique has been widely applied due to its benefits of increasing temperature, conserving moisture, reducing evaporation, and boosting yields. Hydrus-2D is a computer model designed to simulate the two-dimensional movement of water in soil characterized by a low cost [...] Read more.
The ridge–furrow plastic mulching technique has been widely applied due to its benefits of increasing temperature, conserving moisture, reducing evaporation, and boosting yields. Hydrus-2D is a computer model designed to simulate the two-dimensional movement of water in soil characterized by a low cost and high flexibility compared to field experiments. This study, based on field experiment data from Jianping County, Liaoning Province, China, during 2017–2018, developed Hydrus-2D models for two distinct field management practices: non-mulched flat cultivation (NM-FC) and mulched ridge tillage (M-RT). Furthermore, it simulated the dynamic changes in farmland water variations during the summer maize growth period (2021–2100) under climate change scenarios, specifically medium and high emission pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), based on the FGOALS-g3 model, which exhibits the highest similarity to the climate pattern of Jianping County in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) global climate models and the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The results showed that in the future FGOALS-g3 model, net radiation exhibited a significant upward trend under the SSP2-4.5 scenario (Z = 2.38), while the average air temperature showed a highly significant increase under both SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, with Z-values of 6.48 and 8.90, respectively. The Hydrus-2D model demonstrated high simulation accuracy in both NM-FC and M-RT treatments (R2 ranging from 0.86 to 0.96, with RMSE not exceeding 0.011), accurately simulating the dynamic changes in soil water content (SWC) under future climate change. Compared to NM-FC, M-RT reduced evaporation, increased transpiration, and effectively decreased the leakage caused by increased future precipitation, resulting in a 0.04 and 0.01 cm3/cm3 increase in surface and deep soil SWC, respectively, during the summer maize growing season, significantly improving water use efficiency. Moreover, M-RT treatment reduced the impact coefficients of climate change on various water balance parameters, stabilizing changes in these parameters and SWC under future climate conditions. This study demonstrates the significant advantages of M-RT in coping with climate change, providing key scientific evidence for future agricultural water resource management. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and farmers, particularly in developing adaptive land management and irrigation strategies, helping to improve water use efficiency and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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32 pages, 16306 KiB  
Article
Response Mechanism and Evolution Trend of Carbon Effect in the Farmland Ecosystem of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River
by Xiaowen Wang, Zhen Zheng, Weidong Jia, Kaile Tai, Yujie Xu and Yuming He
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102354 - 12 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1227
Abstract
The farmland system in the global terrestrial ecosystem has dual attributes as both a carbon source and a carbon sink, playing a crucial role in controlling carbon emissions and mitigating global warming. Using carbon source and sink accounting of farmland ecosystems, we applied [...] Read more.
The farmland system in the global terrestrial ecosystem has dual attributes as both a carbon source and a carbon sink, playing a crucial role in controlling carbon emissions and mitigating global warming. Using carbon source and sink accounting of farmland ecosystems, we applied methods such as standard deviation ellipse, Tapio decoupling theory, and Markov chain to analyze the spatiotemporal changes, response mechanisms, and evolutionary trends of regional carbon effects. The results indicated that from 2011 to 2021, the farmland ecosystem in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River consistently acted as a carbon sink. However, the net carbon sink showed slight fluctuations and significant spatial differences. The migration range of the net carbon sink center in the farmland ecosystem of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was relatively small, ranging from 115.52 to 115.77° E and 30.14 to 30.27° N. The decomposition of the Tapio decoupling index between the net carbon sink of the farmland ecosystem and agricultural output value showed the order of effects on their coupling relationship as follows: agricultural mechanization level > agricultural mechanization efficiency > agricultural output value > planting scale. The probability of maintaining the original state of net carbon sink in various cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (over 77%) was much higher than the probability of transfer, making it difficult to achieve a leapfrog growth in net carbon sink. The net carbon sink at the city scale exhibits the Matthew effect and spatial spillover effect. The above research results clarify the spatiotemporal changes in carbon effects in agricultural production at multiple levels, including city, province, and region. They also provide a theoretical basis for formulating differentiated regional emission reduction and sink enhancement strategies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, promoting the rapid development of low-carbon agriculture in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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20 pages, 2346 KiB  
Article
Effects of Water, Fertilizer and Heat Coupling on Soil Hydrothermal Conditions and Yield and Quality of Annona squamosa
by Weihua Wang, Ting Bai and Xingwen Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102189 - 24 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 966
Abstract
Seasonal drought and summer soil high-temperature stress in Southern China often lead to decreased yield and quality of Annona squamosa. It is important to explore reasonable and effective water and fertilizer management measures as well as cover measures to improve the soil [...] Read more.
Seasonal drought and summer soil high-temperature stress in Southern China often lead to decreased yield and quality of Annona squamosa. It is important to explore reasonable and effective water and fertilizer management measures as well as cover measures to improve the soil hydrothermal conditions in orchards to realize the increase in yield and quality of Annona squamosa. This study involved a two-year (2022–2023) field experiment in Yun County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, using three factors and a three-level orthogonal test, resulting in nine different experimental treatments for water, fertilizer and heat. The three irrigation levels were W1 (soil moisture content of 55% of field moisture capacity), W2 (soil moisture content of 75% of field moisture capacity) and W3 (soil moisture content of 85% of field moisture capacity). The three fertilizer levels were F1 (1666 kg·hm−2), F2 (2083 kg·hm−2) and F3 (2500 kg·hm−2), and the three cover methods were A1 (no cover), A2 (fresh grass cover) and A3 (straw cover). The effects of these treatments on soil hydrothermal conditions, growth indices and fruit yield and quality of Annona s1uamosa were systematically monitored and analyzed, and the relationships between these treatments and yield and quality was analyzed based on a Mantel test. The results showed that T5 (W2F2A3) had the highest average soil moisture content over two years, followed by T7 (W3F1A3). The T7 (W3F1A3) treatment effectively reduced soil temperature by 5 °C compared to T1 (W1F1A1). T5 (W2F2A3) had the highest average yield over two years, with an increase of 33.99% compared to T1 (W1F1A1). Additionally, T5 (W2F2A3) has the highest average soluble solids, soluble sugars and vitamin C content over two years, with increases of 28.13%, 13.36% and 4.86%, respectively, compared to T1 (W1F1A1). A Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between Annona squamosa growth and soil moisture content and soil temperature, and the Mantel test showed that soil hydrothermal conditions had significant influence on the growth and yield. T5 (W2F2A3) has the highest comprehensive benefit in promoting growth, increasing yield and improving quality for the plant. The effects of different irrigation quantities, fertilizer amounts and different cover measures on the coupling interaction for soil hydrothermal status in the root zone, growth, yield and quality of Annona squamosa were investigated, providing reliable theoretical support for the scientific planting model of Annona squamosa in the low-heat river valley of Yunnan Province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Tillage Methods to Improve the Yield and Quality of Crops)
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