| Spacing tillage (ST) |
A new conservative tillage system widely adopted by farmers in Northeast China because of the advantages of no-tillage and vertical tillage. Modifies the conventional tillage method (with ridge distance of 65cm) to include a 90cm wide sub-soiling belt and a 40cm strip for the crop. 40-45cm height of corn stubble was retained after harvesting to avoid soil erosion. Corn seeds with base fertilizer were planted in soil by a no-till planter (2BMZF-6) in the spring each year. The herbicides (acetochlor and atrazine) were sprinkled by a spraying machine (DYJ160) after seeding. Top-dressing and sub-soiling with 25-30cm depth were done with a deep tillage machine (3ZSF-6) in the jointing stage of corn (8 leaves with collars). The straws were removed from the field except for the high stubble after corn harvest in autumn. |
| No tillage (NT) |
Planting with base fertilizer was done by no-till planter (2BMZF-4) that cuts the corn residue in spring. The herbicides (acetochlor and atrazine) were sprinkled by a spraying machine (DYJ160) after seeding. The straws were removed except for 40-45cm high stubble for conserving soil after corn harvest in autumn. |
| Moldboard plowing (MP) |
A conventional planter (2BDJ-3) was used for sowing and base fertilizer in the spring each year. The seeding zone was compacted by a compacting machine (1YMZ-6). The herbicides (acetochlor and atrazine) were sprinkled by a corn spraying machine (DYJ160) after seeding. Top-dressing and inter tillage were carried out when the corn was at the jointing stage (8 leaves with collars). Straws, except for roots, were removed from the field and soil was turned to a depth of 20 to 25cm by using a turnover plow (1LFT-535) after harvest in autumn. |
| Conventional tillage (CT) |
Conventional tillage commonly used by farmers in China that differs from moldboard plowing. Sowing and base fertilizer were by a conventional planter (2BDJ-3) in the spring. The herbicides (acetochlor and atrazine) were sprinkled by a spraying machine (DYJ160) after seeding. Top-dressing and inter tillage were carried out when the corn was at jointing stage (8 leaves with collars). Straws, except for roots, were removed from the field and soil was tilled to a depth of 8 to 10cm by using a rotary cultivator for seed preparation after harvest in the autumn. |
