Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat

Field studies were conducted in the North China Plain (NCP) during the 2023–2024 season to investigate the vertical microclimate, yield, and yield-related characteristics of winter wheat during the grain-filling stage under no-till direct seeding and conventional tillage. The aim was to compare the...

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Main Authors: Zhiqiang Dong, Shuo Yang, Si Li, Pengfei Fan, Jianguo Wu, Yuxin Liu, Xiu Wang, Jingting Zhang, Changyuan Zhai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3075
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author Zhiqiang Dong
Shuo Yang
Si Li
Pengfei Fan
Jianguo Wu
Yuxin Liu
Xiu Wang
Jingting Zhang
Changyuan Zhai
author_facet Zhiqiang Dong
Shuo Yang
Si Li
Pengfei Fan
Jianguo Wu
Yuxin Liu
Xiu Wang
Jingting Zhang
Changyuan Zhai
author_sort Zhiqiang Dong
collection DOAJ
description Field studies were conducted in the North China Plain (NCP) during the 2023–2024 season to investigate the vertical microclimate, yield, and yield-related characteristics of winter wheat during the grain-filling stage under no-till direct seeding and conventional tillage. The aim was to compare the differences in microclimate between the two tillage methods in wheat fields and the impact of microclimate on yield. The results indicated that, compared to conventional tillage, no-till direct seeding reduced the air temperature and increased the relative humidity of the air at 20 cm and 100 cm above the ground during the wheat grain-filling period. The soil moisture content at 20 cm below the ground under no-till direct seeding was higher than under conventional tillage during the early grain-filling stage. Seven days before the wheat harvest, the dry weight per plant and the dry weight per spike were significantly greater under no-till direct seeding than under conventional tillage. Consequently, the thousand-grain weight of no-till direct seeding was significantly higher than that of conventional tillage, with an increase of 7.9%. The number of wheat sterile spikelets under no-till direct seeding was significantly lower than that under conventional tillage. Furthermore, the number of grains per spike was higher than that of conventional tillage. Although the number of harvested spikes under no-till direct seeding was 10.8% lower than under conventional tillage, the increase in thousand-grain weight and the number of grains per spike compensated for the reduced number of harvested spikes. As a result, the grain yield of winter wheat under no-till direct seeding was higher than that of conventional tillage, increasing by 2.7%. Therefore, adopting no-till direct seeding in the NCP is conducive to increasing winter wheat production and efficiency, as well as supporting sustainable agricultural development.
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spelling doaj-art-ff8e6a4ceb40443dbaa6f1ba42bf52ef2025-08-20T02:53:34ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011412307510.3390/agronomy14123075Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter WheatZhiqiang Dong0Shuo Yang1Si Li2Pengfei Fan3Jianguo Wu4Yuxin Liu5Xiu Wang6Jingting Zhang7Changyuan Zhai8Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050035, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaInstitute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050035, ChinaIntelligent Equipment Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, ChinaField studies were conducted in the North China Plain (NCP) during the 2023–2024 season to investigate the vertical microclimate, yield, and yield-related characteristics of winter wheat during the grain-filling stage under no-till direct seeding and conventional tillage. The aim was to compare the differences in microclimate between the two tillage methods in wheat fields and the impact of microclimate on yield. The results indicated that, compared to conventional tillage, no-till direct seeding reduced the air temperature and increased the relative humidity of the air at 20 cm and 100 cm above the ground during the wheat grain-filling period. The soil moisture content at 20 cm below the ground under no-till direct seeding was higher than under conventional tillage during the early grain-filling stage. Seven days before the wheat harvest, the dry weight per plant and the dry weight per spike were significantly greater under no-till direct seeding than under conventional tillage. Consequently, the thousand-grain weight of no-till direct seeding was significantly higher than that of conventional tillage, with an increase of 7.9%. The number of wheat sterile spikelets under no-till direct seeding was significantly lower than that under conventional tillage. Furthermore, the number of grains per spike was higher than that of conventional tillage. Although the number of harvested spikes under no-till direct seeding was 10.8% lower than under conventional tillage, the increase in thousand-grain weight and the number of grains per spike compensated for the reduced number of harvested spikes. As a result, the grain yield of winter wheat under no-till direct seeding was higher than that of conventional tillage, increasing by 2.7%. Therefore, adopting no-till direct seeding in the NCP is conducive to increasing winter wheat production and efficiency, as well as supporting sustainable agricultural development.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3075winter wheatno-tillage direct seedingconventional tillageair temperaturerelative humidity of airsoil moisture content
spellingShingle Zhiqiang Dong
Shuo Yang
Si Li
Pengfei Fan
Jianguo Wu
Yuxin Liu
Xiu Wang
Jingting Zhang
Changyuan Zhai
Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
Agronomy
winter wheat
no-tillage direct seeding
conventional tillage
air temperature
relative humidity of air
soil moisture content
title Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
title_full Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
title_fullStr Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
title_full_unstemmed Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
title_short Effects of No-Tillage on Field Microclimate and Yield of Winter Wheat
title_sort effects of no tillage on field microclimate and yield of winter wheat
topic winter wheat
no-tillage direct seeding
conventional tillage
air temperature
relative humidity of air
soil moisture content
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3075
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