Alagbo Oyebanji O, Saile Marcus, Spaeth Michael, Schumacher Matthias, Gerhards Roland
Department of Weed Science (360b), Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany.
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Heliyon. 2024 Nov 20;10(23):e40527. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40527. eCollection 2024 Dec 15.
Ridge tillage (RT) is a conservation practice that provides several benefits such as enhanced root growth and reduced soil erosion. The objectives of this study were to develop an autosteered living mulch seeder and hoeing prototype for RT systems using RTK-GNSS (real-time kinematic global navigation satellite systems) created ridges as a guide. It was also aimed to compare weed control efficacy and crop response of ridge-hoeing compared to conventional hoeing in flat tillage (FT). It was further aimed to investigate the impact of a new RT technology (with ridge re-compaction) on maize root development, yield, soil temperature, and moisture compared to FT. Field experiments were conducted with maize in 2021 and 2022 in a two-factorial split-plot design with tillage (RT and FT) as main treatment and weed control (untreated, herbicide, twice hoeing, hoeing + living mulch) as sub-treatment factors. Weed density, coverage, biomass, crop density, weed control efficacy (WCE) and maize silage yield were assessed. Temperature loggers were installed within RT and FT to take temperature readings at 20 min. Soil moisture and root penetrability were measured every two weeks in each plot using soil samples and a penetrometer. The WCE and yield did not differ significantly between the tillage systems. Twice hoeing resulted in 71-80 % WCE, which was equal to herbicide treatment. Hoeing + living mulch achieved 70-72 % WCE. Different from previous studies with ridge tillage, temperatures in the compacted ridges did not consistently differ from the ridge valleys and flat seedbeds. Root penetration (against 1.4 MPa penetrometer cone index) was 40 % higher in RT than in FT. On average, RT maize produced more (53.6 g m) root biomass compared to FT. In summary, re-compacted ridges built along RTK-GNSS lines can allow post-emergent hoeing and living mulch seeding along ridges and also provide good growing conditions for maize.
垄作（RT）是一种保护性耕作方式，具有多种益处，如促进根系生长和减少土壤侵蚀。本研究的目的是开发一种自动导向的覆盖作物播种机和中耕除草原型机，用于垄作系统，以实时动态全球导航卫星系统（RTK - GNSS）创建的垄作为导向。研究还旨在比较垄作中耕除草与平作（FT）常规中耕除草的杂草控制效果和作物反应。进一步的目的是研究一种新的垄作技术（带垄压实）与平作相比，对玉米根系发育、产量、土壤温度和湿度的影响。2021年和2022年对玉米进行了田间试验，采用两因素裂区设计，以耕作方式（垄作和平作）为主处理，杂草控制（未处理、除草剂、两次中耕除草、中耕除草 + 覆盖作物）为副处理因素。评估了杂草密度、覆盖度、生物量、作物密度、杂草控制效果（WCE）和玉米青贮产量。在垄作和平作区域安装了温度记录仪，每隔20分钟记录一次温度。每隔两周使用土壤样本和贯入仪在每个地块测量土壤湿度和根系穿透性。两种耕作系统的杂草控制效果和产量没有显著差异。两次中耕除草的杂草控制效果为71 - 80%，与除草剂处理相当。中耕除草 + 覆盖作物的杂草控制效果为70 - 72%。与以往的垄作研究不同，压实垄中的温度与垄沟和平整苗床的温度并无持续差异。垄作的根系穿透能力（针对1.4兆帕的贯入仪锥尖指数）比平作高40%。平均而言，垄作玉米的根系生物量比平作多（53.6克/平方米）。总之，沿RTK - GNSS线路构建的压实垄能够实现出苗后的垄间中耕除草和覆盖作物播种，也为玉米提供了良好的生长条件。
