Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 16316

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Science and Computing, South East Technical University (SETU), Summerfield Campus, Y35 KA07 Wexford, Ireland
Interests: sustainable agriculture; nitrogen cycle; climate change adaptation; greenhouse gas emissions; diffuse sources of pollution; soil survey and evaluation; soil management; environmental science; climate-smart agriculture; interdisciplinary research; sustainable development; geographic information system (GIS)
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Nepal
Interests: land use change and GHG emission; soil ecology; climate change adaptation and mitigation; climate smart agriculture

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Interests: climate change and agriculture; irrigation; sustainable agriculture; soil and water conservation; soil erosion; soil moisture; drought; water balance; evapotranspiration; soil water sensors; environment sustainability; unmanned aerial vehicles; remote sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of tillage systems throughout history, in many ways, mirrors the development of civilization. From the ancient plough to the modern agricultural machinery which became a symbol of modern agriculture and enabled us to feed the ever-increasing world population, tillage is a primary field operation that has been part of most agricultural systems throughout the years. Tillage has an immense effect on physical, chemical, and biological soil properties and, thereby, on crop productivity and environment. Although proper and timely use of tillage overcomes edaphic constraints to crop production, inopportune tillage may cause a variety of adverse effects, such as enhanced soil compaction, erosion, and degradation; loss of organic matter and fertility; disruption of water, carbon, and nutrient cycles; and negative effect on soil biota and biodiversity.

Today, as our civilization is shifting towards sustainable development, our tillage systems must also change in a way to increase or retain crop productivity, while simultaneously preserving the natural resource base.  In this context, conservation tillage practices (such as zero tillage, no-till, reduced/minimum tillage, mulch tillage, ridge tillage to contour tillage) have shown to be a viable option to ensure sustainable food production with minimal impact on soil and environment in different agroecosystems. This Special Issue seeks to review the current knowledge on different conservation tillage systems and their effects on both soil properties and crop productivity.  Tillage requirement of a crop is site, environment, and soil specific. Therefore, the aim is to present a collection of research articles and review papers that cover a broad range of cropping systems and practices from different farmland ecosystems.

We invite manuscripts from integrative studies that assess the overall impact of conservation tillage methods on the establishment and yield of crops, growth of plants and roots, soil physics and erosion, soil–water relations, cycling of carbon and nutrients, greenhouse gas emissions, leaching, run-off, weed, pest and disease control, soil health and biodiversity, as well as their interaction and links to other soil functions in the context of environmental quality, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and soil quality/health.

Dr. Ognjen Žurovec
Dr. Nani Raut
Dr. Sabrija Čadro
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • conservation tillage
  • no tillage
  • zero tillage
  • tillage practices
  • crop yields
  • soil physics
  • soil chemistry
  • soil biology
  • soil microbiology
  • soil erosion
  • nitrate leaching
  • soil organic carbon
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • water use efficiency

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 6438 KiB  
Article
Potato Cultivation Under Zero Tillage and Straw Mulching: Option for Land and Cropping System Intensification for Indian Sundarbans
by Saikat Dey, Sukamal Sarkar, Anannya Dhar, Koushik Brahmachari, Argha Ghosh, Rupak Goswami and Mohammed Mainuddin
Land 2025, 14(3), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030563 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 694
Abstract
Agriculture in the Indian Sundarbans deltaic region primarily depends on a rice-based monocropping system during the rainy season, with the subsequent season often remaining fallow. To mitigate this issue, a series of experiments using zero tillage and straw mulching (ZTSM) potato cultivation were [...] Read more.
Agriculture in the Indian Sundarbans deltaic region primarily depends on a rice-based monocropping system during the rainy season, with the subsequent season often remaining fallow. To mitigate this issue, a series of experiments using zero tillage and straw mulching (ZTSM) potato cultivation were conducted over eight consecutive years (2017–2024) across various islands in the Sundarbans Delta, West Bengal, aimed to intensify the cropping system and ensure the betterment of the land use pattern using climate-smart agricultural practices. In the initial two years, the experiments concentrated on assessing different potato cultivars and nutrient dosages under zero tillage and paddy straw mulching conditions. During the subsequent years, the focus shifted to field demonstrations under diverse climatic conditions. The research included the application of different macronutrients and growth regulators, in combination with different depths of straw mulching. In the final years of the study, the intervention was dedicated solely to the horizontal expansion of cultivated land. These initiatives aimed to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable land use in the polders, promoting climate-resilient farming practices. From the sets of experiments, we standardized the sustainable nutrient management strategies and selection of appropriate potato cultivars vis-à-vis depth of straw mulching and, finally, the overall best agronomic practices for the region. The adoption of the ZTSM potato cultivation system demonstrated considerable success, as evidenced by the remarkable increase in the number of farmers employing this sustainable agricultural practice. The number of farmers practicing zero tillage potato cultivation surged from 23 in the initial year to over 1100, covering an area of more than 15 ha, highlighting the effectiveness of the technology. The analysis of the estimated adoption also showed that more than 90% adoption is likely to be achieved within a decade. This potential expansion underscores the benefits of the ZTSM potato cultivation system in improving soil health, conserving water, and reducing labour and costs. As more farmers recognize the advantages of zero tillage potato mulching, this approach is poised to play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture, enhancing productivity while promoting environmental stewardship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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16 pages, 3991 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Tillage and Straw Management for Improved Soil Physical Properties and Yield
by Luka Brezinscak and Igor Bogunovic
Land 2025, 14(2), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020376 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 444
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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20 pages, 1671 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Maize Productivity and Soil Fertility: Insights from Tillage, Nitrogen Management, and Hydrochar Applications
by Waleed Iqbal, Ahmad Khan, Aftab Jamal, Emanuele Radicetti, Mohamed Farouk Elsadek, Mohammad Ajmal Ali and Roberto Mancinelli
Land 2024, 13(8), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081329 - 22 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split [...] Read more.
Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split plot arrangement and four replications. Main plots received shallow tillage and deep tillage. Subplots were treated with nitrogen (120 kg ha−1) from farmyard manure (FYM) and urea, including control, 33% FYM + 67% urea (MU), and 80% FYM + 20% urea (MF). Acidified hydrochar treatments H0 (no hydrochar) and H1 (with hydrochar, 2 t ha−1) were applied to sub-sub plots. Deep tillage significantly increased plant height, biological yield, grain yield, ear length, grains ear−1, thousand-grain weight, and nitrogen content compared to shallow tillage. MU and MF improved growth parameters and yield over the control. Hydrochar effects varied; H1 enhanced yield components and soil properties such as soil organic matter and nitrogen availability compared to H0. Canonical discriminant analysis linked deep tillage and MU/MF nitrogen management with improved yield and soil characteristics. In conclusion, deep tillage combined with integrated nitrogen management enhances maize productivity and soil properties. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate tillage and nitrogen strategies for sustainable maize production along with hydrochar addition. These insights guide policymakers, agronomists, and agricultural extension services in adopting evidence-based strategies for sustainable agriculture, enhancing food production, and mitigating environmental impacts. The implication of this study suggests to undertake long-term application of hydrochar for further clarification and validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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15 pages, 1022 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Effect of Tillage Systems on Planosol Physical Properties, CO2 Emissions and Spring Barley Productivity
by Aušra Sinkevičienė, Kęstutis Romaneckas, Karolina Jackevičienė, Toma Petrikaitė, Jovita Balandaitė and Rasa Kimbirauskienė
Land 2024, 13(8), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081289 - 15 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1098
Abstract
As the population grows, more food is needed to keep the food supply chain running smoothly. For many years, intensive farming systems have been used to meet this need. Currently, due to intense climate change and other global natural problems, there is a [...] Read more.
As the population grows, more food is needed to keep the food supply chain running smoothly. For many years, intensive farming systems have been used to meet this need. Currently, due to intense climate change and other global natural problems, there is a shift towards sustainable use of natural resources and simplified methods of tillage. Soil tillage intensity influences the distribution of nutrients, and soil’s physical and mechanical properties, as well as gas flows. The impact of reduced tillage on these indices in spring barley cultivation is still insufficient and requires more analysis on a global scale. This study was carried out at Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy (Lithuania) in 2022–2023. The aim of the investigation was to determine the effect of the tillage systems on the soil temperature, moisture content, CO2 respiration and concentration in spring barley cultivation. Based on a long-term tillage experiment, five tillage systems were tested: deep and shallow moldboard ploughing, deep cultivation-chiseling, shallow cultivation-chiseling, and no tillage Shallow plowing technology has been found to better conserve soil moisture and maintain higher temperatures in most cases. During almost the entire study period, the spring barley crop with deep cultivation had lower moisture content and lower soil temperature. Shallow cultivation fields in most cases increased CO2 emissions and CO2 concentration. When applying direct sowing to the uncultivated soil (10–20 cm), the concentration of CO2 decreased from 0.01 to 0.148 percent. pcs. The results show that in direct sowing fields, most cases had a positive effect on crop density. Direct sowing fields resulted in significantly lower, from 7.9 to 26.5%, grain yields of spring barley in the years studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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15 pages, 2078 KiB  
Article
Application of Unconventional Tillage Systems to Maize Cultivation and Measures for Rational Use of Agricultural Lands
by Felicia Chețan, Teodor Rusu, Cornel Chețan, Alina Șimon, Ana-Maria Vălean, Adrian Ovidiu Ceclan, Marius Bărdaș and Adina Tărău
Land 2023, 12(11), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112046 - 10 Nov 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1873
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main agricultural crops grown worldwide under very diverse climate and soil conditions. For maize cultivation in a conventional tillage system, autumn plowing is a mandatory condition. Minimum soil tillage or no tillage has been [...] Read more.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main agricultural crops grown worldwide under very diverse climate and soil conditions. For maize cultivation in a conventional tillage system, autumn plowing is a mandatory condition. Minimum soil tillage or no tillage has been applied in recent years, both in research and in production, for reasons relating to soil conservation and fuel economy. This paper presents the results of the research executed under pedoclimatic conditions at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda (ARDS Turda, Romania; chernozem soil) regarding the behavior of the maize hybrid Turda 332 cultivated in four tillage systems and two levels of fertilization during the period of 2016–2022. The following soil tillage systems were applied: a conventional tillage system (CT) and unconventional tillage systems in three variants—a minimum tillage system with a chisel (MTC), a minimum tillage system with a disk (MTD), and a no-tillage system (NT). They were applied with two levels of fertilization: basic fertilization (350 kg ha−1 NPK 16:16:16, applied at sowing) and optimized fertilization (350 kg ha−1 NPK 16:16:16 applied at sowing + 150 kg ha−1 calcium ammonium nitrate with additional fertilization in the phenophase of the maize with 6–7 leaves). The results highlight the fact that under the conditions of chernozem soils with a high clay content (41% clay content), maize does not lend itself to cultivation in MTD and NT, requiring deeper mobilization, with the yield data confirming this fact. This is because under the agrotechnical conditions for sowing carried out in MTD and NT, the seeder used (Maschio Gaspardo MT 6R) does not allow for the high-quality sowing of maize, especially under dry soil conditions. Instead, the MTC system could be an alternative to the conventional tillage system, with the yield difference being below 100 kg ha−1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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14 pages, 2003 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Tillage and Residue Management Options on Soil Water Transmission and Mechanical Behavior
by Vicky Singh, Rajeev Kumar Gupta, M. S. Kahlon, A. S. Toor, K. B. Singh, Nadhir Al-Ansari and Mohamed A. Mattar
Land 2023, 12(10), 1895; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101895 - 9 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2137
Abstract
Understanding the variability in the mechanical and hydrological soil characteristics resulting from diverse tillage and residue management practices is essential for evaluating the adoption of conservation strategies to preserve soil’s physical well-being. Zero-tillage techniques combined with residue retention or incorporation have gained widespread [...] Read more.
Understanding the variability in the mechanical and hydrological soil characteristics resulting from diverse tillage and residue management practices is essential for evaluating the adoption of conservation strategies to preserve soil’s physical well-being. Zero-tillage techniques combined with residue retention or incorporation have gained widespread recognition for their capacity to conserve soil and water resources, reduce energy consumption, and enhance soil quality and environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, the choice of tillage and residue management options may vary depending on the geographical locations and specific soil conditions. To assess the impacts of four distinct tillage and residue management approaches, a two-year experiment (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) was conducted: T1: conventional tillage followed by wheat sowing after the removal of rice straw (CT-RS); T2: zero tillage with wheat sowing using a Happy Seeder while retaining rice straw (ZT+RS); T3: conventional tillage followed by wheat sowing after rice straw incorporation using a reversible mouldboard plough (CT+RS); T4: minimum tillage with wheat sowing using a Super Seeder with rice straw incorporation (MT+RS); the effects were recorded on the physical soil properties. Our findings indicate that zero tillage combined with residue retention (T2) had a positive influence on various physical soil attributes. Notably, significant differences were observed among the tillage and residue management options, particularly in terms of the bulk density with T1 exhibiting the highest values and the lowest being in T2, whereas the soil penetration resistance was lowest in T3 compared to T1. In the case of T3, sandy loam and clay loam soils had the highest measured saturated hydraulic conductivity values, measuring 5.08 and 4.57 cm h−1 and 4.07 and 3.73 cm h−1, respectively. Furthermore, T2 (zero tillage with residue retention) demonstrated the highest mean weight diameter (MWD) and maximum water stable aggregate. These results collectively underscore the positive effects of adopting zero tillage and retaining residue (T2) on soil structure and quality, particularly concerning the mechanical and hydrological soil properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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18 pages, 4544 KiB  
Article
Effects of Main Land-Use Types on Plant and Microbial Diversity and Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Degraded Alpine Grasslands
by Hongye Su, Li Ma, Tao Chang, Ruimin Qin, Zhonghua Zhang, Yandi She, Jingjing Wei, Chenyu Zhou, Xue Hu, Zhengchen Shi, Haze Adi, Honglin Li and Huakun Zhou
Land 2023, 12(3), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030638 - 8 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2010
Abstract
Grassland resources occupy an important place in the national economy. However, grasslands in alpine regions of China are severely degraded, and the effects of land-use types on species composition, soil nutrients, and ecosystem multifunctionality of degraded alpine grasslands are less certain. To ascertain [...] Read more.
Grassland resources occupy an important place in the national economy. However, grasslands in alpine regions of China are severely degraded, and the effects of land-use types on species composition, soil nutrients, and ecosystem multifunctionality of degraded alpine grasslands are less certain. To ascertain the effects of main land-use types (no-tillage reseeding and fertilization) on species diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality in alpine grasslands, we investigated the changes in these factors by subjecting specified areas. Using a standardized field survey, we measured the cover, richness, and evenness of plants. At each site, we measured microbial diversity and twelve soil variables critical for maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality in alpine grasslands. The results showed that: (1) the Margalef, Shannon–Wiener, and Simpson indices of plant community, and fungal diversity indices increased significantly in no-tillage reseeding and fertilization; (2) at the phyla level, the relative abundances of Basidiomycota, Olpidiomycota, and Proteobacteria increased significantly in no-tillage reseeding and fertilization, as well as, at the genus level, those of Coniochaeta, Solirubrobacter, Pseudonocardia, and Microvirga; (3) the soil physicochemical properties (except the C:N of soil) increased significantly in no-tillage reseeding and fertilization; (4) correlation analysis showed that species diversity was mainly correlated with soil nutrients in control check, while it was mainly correlated with soil physical properties in no-tillage reseeding and fertilization; (5) linear regression analysis showed significant positive relationships between Margalef, Shannon–Wiener, and Simpson indices of plant community and ecosystem multifunctionality. In addition, ecosystem multifunctionality was positively related to Pielou, Shannon–Wiener, and Simpson indices of the fungal community and it was positively related to Pielou and Shannon–Wiener indices of bacterial community. These observations indicated that no-tillage reseeding and fertilization of degraded alpine grasslands had the potential to improve ecosystem functions in many ways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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15 pages, 2585 KiB  
Article
The Mineral Biochar Alters the Biochemical and Microbial Properties of the Soil and the Grain Yield of Hordeum vulgare L. under Drought Stress
by Sajjad Nasiri, Babak Andalibi, Afshin Tavakoli, Mohammad Amir Delavar, Ali El-Keblawy, Lukas Van Zwieten and Andrea Mastinu
Land 2023, 12(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030559 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2087
Abstract
Biochar improves soil physical, biochemical, and microbial properties, leading to the amelioration of soil fertility, which, in turn, results in better growth and yield in crop plants. The current study aimed to evaluate whether using different levels of biochar can enhance soil characteristics [...] Read more.
Biochar improves soil physical, biochemical, and microbial properties, leading to the amelioration of soil fertility, which, in turn, results in better growth and yield in crop plants. The current study aimed to evaluate whether using different levels of biochar can enhance soil characteristics and plant attributes. Accordingly, an experimental study was conducted in 2022 using a randomized complete block design with four replications (n = 4) in the experimental glasshouse of the University of Zanjan, in which two regimes of irrigation (D0, full irrigation as the control; D1, water scarcity was applied immediately after the flowering stage for two weeks) and four levels of natural mineral biochar (0% as the control treatment, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% of soil weight) were applied. The results indicated that drought substantially decreased the organic carbon content of the soil and the grain yield while increasing the available phosphorous, soil carbohydrate content, and microbial biomass of the soil. Biochar could considerably alter the means of the studied soil quality parameters and the barley grain yield. Adding biochar could be considered a valid strategy to increase the resistance of plants to drought. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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17 pages, 2993 KiB  
Article
Description of the Gap between Local Agricultural Practices and Agroecological Soil Management Tools in Zerhoun and in the Middle Atlas Areas of Morocco
by Aziza Irhza, Laila Nassiri, Moussa El Jarroudi, Fouad Rachidi, Rachid Lahlali and Ghizlane Echchgadda
Land 2023, 12(2), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020268 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2957
Abstract
Agroecology is an agricultural, holistic, and innovative approach, which aims to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of agricultural systems. This approach is very rewarding for agriculture in developing countries, mainly in arid zones where water resources are in sharp decline. In this [...] Read more.
Agroecology is an agricultural, holistic, and innovative approach, which aims to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of agricultural systems. This approach is very rewarding for agriculture in developing countries, mainly in arid zones where water resources are in sharp decline. In this study, we examined farmers’ knowledge by studying existing agricultural production systems and agricultural practices in Moulay Driss Zerhoun (S1) and the Middle Atlas (S2) in central Morocco, to assess the gap between them and the principles and recommendations of agroecology. Data were collected through a survey of 64 farmers, and through field trips and observations. Collected data were analyzed with Chi-square tests and canonical correspondence analysis. Most farms (63.3% in S1 and 52.9% in S2) have an area between 0 and 5 ha. Both areas frequently opt for agroforestry. Olive trees and annual crops (85%), olive trees and fodder crops (10%), and olive trees and market garden crops (5%) are the most recorded associations. Olive trees were used frequently in association with other fruit trees, such as almond trees (15%), carob trees (13%), and fig trees (5%). Of farmers practicing agroforestry, 70% use only organic fertilizers. Thus, 53% of the farmers interviewed at the level of the S2 zone cultivate vegetable crops, against 17% at the level of S1, and only 40% of the farmers of S1 use irrigation, while 60% depend on rainfall. On the other hand, 83.3% of farmers in S1 adopted a two-year rotation—cereals and legumes—against 30% in S2. Tillage or plowing is considered by farmers a necessary procedure before sowing, and, only in S2, 71% of farmers opt for annual tillage of their land for agroforestry. Based on multivariate analysis, the choice of crops was significantly influenced by region and type of organization. However, it was not influenced by topography or farmland size, and the land and area played an important role in the selection of crop types. Raising awareness and introducing agroecological practices in the two study areas based on local knowledge seems essential, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of agroecosystems, respecting the environment, and guaranteeing the sustainability of small farmers through the diversification of their productions. The obtained results from this work are the first in this field of study and constitute a basis for comparative investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)
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