Home Effects of subsoiling on maize yield and water-use efficiency in a semiarid area
Article Open Access

Effects of subsoiling on maize yield and water-use efficiency in a semiarid area

  • Yinzhu Jiao , Yanli Yi , Liangshan Feng EMAIL logo , Zhanxiang Sun , Ning Yang , Jialin Yu , Muzi Zheng , Lizhen Zhang and Jiaming Zheng
Published/Copyright: November 30, 2017
Download Article (PDF)
Open Life Sciences
From the journal Open Life Sciences Volume 12 Issue 1

Abstract

A 3-year field research was conducted to investigate the effect of four subsoiling methods on maize yield and water use efficiency. These four subsoiling methods included bulk subsoiling in autumn (BS), annual ridge subsoiling in autumn, annual furrow subsoiling in early summer, and interannual alternate zone subsoiling (AS), which were compared with rotary tillage in spring. The results suggested that the bulk density of the soil was alternately changed by AS, but AS had limited effect on the average water storage in the soil. Overall, soil tilled by BS and AS maintained a high water-holding capacity, which could stabilize the yield of maize under varying rainfall across different years. Maize under the AS subsoiling method maintained a relatively higher production capacity and water-use efficiency compared with those under the other three types of subsoiling methods.

Keywords: Rain-fed farmland; soil water-holding capacity; water-use efficiency; zone subsoiling

1 Introduction

Water resources are often a limiting factor for the sustainable development of agricultural systems, especially in semiarid areas [1]. The ability of the soil layer to hold water in the root zone is important to increase crop yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) as it reduces drought risk during the crop-growing season. Moreover, subsoiling has a direct influence on soil moisture [2,3]. Rain-fed agriculture often faced problems of poor land management due to decentralized farm land, sandy soil, or low economic profit. For example, in the north region of Liaoning in northeast China, where the physical and chemical properties of the topsoil for growing crops are poor and the plow pan is thick and uplifted, the root penetration is limited, reducing the capacity of holding rainfall [4].

Subsoiling, as a commonly used agricultural practice, can effectively loosen soil for receiving and holding more rainfall in the soil and breaking the plow pan for the improvement in water percolation and root penetration [3,4]. The loose soil in the upper layer and compact soil in the lower layer of the root zone are favorable for maize growth and effectively prevent maize stalk lodging in the late season [5]. Subsoiling reduces surface runoff and increases the water availability of the soil, thus improving the potential of boosting crop growth, yield, WUE, and sustainability [6, 7, 8]. Partial subsoiling of alternate strips of tilled and untilled ground in a field was found to increase the water- and nutrient-holding capacity of the soil and reduce soil evaporation [9, 10, 11].

Interannual alternate zone subsoiling (AS) mainly involves the alternate application of ridge subsoiling after the autumn harvest and furrow subsoiling before the elongation of the maize stalk in early summer of the second year. Information regarding the effect of subsoiling methods on the water-holding capacity of the soil is limited in published scientific studies.

Therefore, the objective of this study was to (a) quantify the effects of the intensity and proportion of subsoiling on crop yield, soil physical properties, water uptake, and WUE in rain-fed agriculture; and (b) explore the mechanism of soil improvement and water availability by full and partial subsoiling. The results were used to discuss the application of optimal subsoiling practice in the semiarid region for the sustainable development of rain-fed agriculture in relation to soil erosion and climate change.

2 Materials and Methods

2.1 Experiment Description

This study was conducted at the Experiment Station of Agricultural Environment and Arable Land Conservation in Fuxin, Liaoning, China, located at longitude 121.46, latitude 42.09, and an elevation of 213 m. Zhengdan 958 maize seeds were sown in brown earth on the experimental fields after cleaning the stubble through shallow rotary tillage (to a depth of about 8 cm). The field was free of deep tillage for more than 10 years before the initiation of the experiment. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, the total precipitation in this region was 483.7, 462.3, and 216.3 mm, respectively. Irrigation was not conducted during the experimentation.

2.2 Experimental Design

Five treatments, including bulk subsoiling in autumn (BS; work date was around October 25 every year, and the depth was 28 cm), annual ridge subsoiling in autumn (RS; work date was the same as BS, and the depth was 28 cm), annual furrow subsoiling in early June before maize elongation (FS; the depth was 28 cm), and interannual AS (1 year RS and next year FS; the depth was 28 cm), were implemented and compared with rotary tillage in spring (CK; the depth was 15 cm). Figure 1a shows the subsoiler used for ridge subsoiling, furrow subsoiling, and interannual AS, and Figure 1b shows the subsoiler used for bulk subsoiling. The experimental design was a randomized design with three replicates. The plot size was 30 m in length and 10 m in width.

Figure 1 Two kinds of subsoilers.
Figure 1

Two kinds of subsoilers.

The maize was planted on the ridge and rowed one line on each ridge; the ridge spacing was 50 cm. The plant density of maize was 60,000 plants/ha (with row distance of 50 cm and planting distance of 33 cm), and NPK compound fertilizer (the contents of N, P2O5, and K2O were 15%) was used at a rate of 375 kg/ha. A topdressing of urea with N content of 46% was applied before the maize elongation stage at a rate of 375 kg/ha. Maize was sowed on April 29 and 30, and May 6, and harvested on September 25 and 27, and October 21, in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively.

Ethical approval

The conducted research is not related to either human or animals use.

2.3 Measurements

2.3.1 Bulk density of the soil

The bulk densities of the soils were measured using a foil sampler immediately after the maize was harvested. Soils were sampled under the ridge and furrow in each plot; 5 cm was measured for each layer, averaging three iterations. The bulk densities of the soils at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm were calculated according to Equation 1 using the average of corresponding levels.

ρ=m/ν(1)

where ρ is the bulk density of the soil of one sample, g/cm3; m is the dry weight of the soil in the foil sampler, g; and ν is the sample volume of the foil sampler, cm3.

2.3.2 Moisture content of the soil

The water content in the soil was determined from the date of planting to harvesting and determined once a month. It was measured using an earth boring auger and then oven dried at 150°C. The sampling point in each sampling layer and at the junction of ridge and furrow was 10 cm, and the measuring depth was 100 cm. The water storage in the soil was calculated using Equation 2. The bulk density of the soil at a depth of 0–30 cm was calculated according to the measurements obtained that correlated to each year, and the water content in the soil at a depth of 30–100 cm was calculated according to the average bulk density of 1.46 g/cm3 of the soil. The bulk density of the soil at a depth of 30–100 cm changed a little as the depth of tillage was less than 30 cm.

W=∑ϕi⋅ρi⋅hi(2)

where W is the water storage in the soil, mm; φi is the water content in the soil for each soil layer; ρi is the bulk density of the soil for each soil layer, g/cm3; hi is the sampling depth (one soil layer), mm.

2.3.3 Yield

Maize yield for each sample plot (50 m2) was measured once maize ripened.

2.4 Data Analysis

2.4.1 Water uptake

The soil water balance method was used to calculate the water uptake in this study, according to Equation 3.

ET=I+P−RO−DP+CR±ΔSF±ΔSW(3)

where ET is the water consumption of the soil, mm; I and P represent irrigation and rainfall, respectively, of that period, mm; RO is the soil surface runoff for rainfall or irrigation, mm; DP is the deep soil percolation, mm; CR is the groundwater rising from the capillary to the root zone (due to lower groundwater levels, generally ignored), mm; ΔSF is the lateral leakage of the soil, including the lateral inflow SFin and lateral outflow SFout (ignored in this test), mm; and ΔSW is the soil moisture variation, mm.

2.4.2 Water-use efficiency

The WUE of the crops was calculated using Equation 4 [12].

WUE=0.1⋅Y/ET(4)

where WUE is the water-use efficiency, kg/m3; Y is the yield of maize, kg/ha; and ET is the soil water evapotranspiration, mm.

3 Results

3.1 Effects of Different Tillage Methods on the Bulk Density of the Soil

After harvesting, vertical changes occurred in the bulk density of the soil, as shown in Table 1. The results showed that the fields tilled with subsoiling methods significantly reduced the bulk density of the soil compared with CK. The most significant reduction in bulk density was observed using BS and AS tillage methods in 2012 and 2014. In 2013, the most effective reduction in the bulk densities of the soils was noted using the BS method. In different tillage methods, the average bulk densities of 0–15 cm of the soil layer of CK were at the lowest level in the 3 years; the hierarchical orders were as follows: RS > FS > BS ≈ AS > CK in 2012; AS > FS ≈ RS > BS > CK in 2013; and FS ≈ RS > AS ≈ BS ≈ CK in 2014. Although the average bulk densities of 15–30 cm of the soil layer of CK were at the highest level, the order was as follows: CK > RS > FS > AS ≈ BS in 2012; CK > RS ≈ AS ≈ FS > BS in 2013; and CK > RS ≈ FS > AS ≈ BS in 2014.

Table 1

Soil bulk density under different subsoiling treatments in 2011–2014 (unit: g/cm3)

2011201220132014
0–15 cm15–30 cm0–15 cm15–30 cm0–15 cm15–30 cm0–15 cm15–30 cm
CK1.299 aA1.459 aA1.272 dD1.465 aA1.261 dC1.464 aA1.280 bB1.459 aA
BS1.300 aA1.457 aA1.281 cC1.369 dD1.277 cB1.359 dD1.278 bB1.364 cB
RS1.301 aA1.451 aA1.304 aA1.403 bB1.292 bA1.392 bB1.290 aA1.379 bB
FS1.313 aA1.442 aA1.295 bB1.382 cC1.292 bA1.377 cC1.293 aA1.372 bB
AS1.292 aA1.451 aA1.281 cC1.370 dD1.304 aA1.388 bBC1.279 bB1.365 cB
P0.3710.2180.0000.0000.0130.0000.0020.000

  1. BS, bulk subsoiling in autumn; RS, annual ridge subsoiling in autumn; FS, annual furrow subsoiling in early summer; AS, interannual alternate zone subsoiling; CK, rotary tillage in spring.

    Values followed by the same small letter are not significantly different according to least significant difference (LSD) at 0.05 level in the same year, Values followed by the capital letter are not significantly different according to LSD at 0.01 level in the same year.

The lateral variations in bulk density of the soil caused by different tillage methods were also measured (Table 2). The average bulk densities of 15–30 cm of the soil layer of CK were at the highest level regardless of ridge or furrow. The hierarchical order in the ridge position was CK > FS > RS ≈ AS ≈ BS in 2012; CK > FS ≈ AS > FS ≈ BS in 2013; and CK > FS > AS ≈ RS ≈ BS in 2014. The hierarchical order in the furrow position was CK > RS > BS ≈ FS ≈ AS in 2012; CK ≈ RS > AS > BS ≈ FS in 2013; and CK > RS > BS ≈ AS ≈ FS in 2014.

Table 2

Lateral variations of soil bulk density under different treatments (unit: g/cm3)

In 2011In 2012In 2013In 2014
RidgeFurrowRidgeFurrowRidgeFurrowRidgeFurrow
CK1.358 aA1.400 aA1.349 aA1.387 aA1.344 aA1.381 aA1.352 aA1.387 aA
BS1.353 aA1.404 aA1.307 cC1.342 cC1.299 cC1.337 cC1.300 dC1.343 cC
RS1.361 aA1.391 aA1.311 cC1.397 bB1.304 cC1.380 aA1.303 cdC1.366 bB
FS1.348 aA1.407 aA1.339 bB1.339 cC1.338 bAB1.331 cC1.331 bB1.334 cC
AS1.351 aA1.392 aA1.312 cC1.339 cC1.335 bB1.358 bB1.306 cC1.338 cC
P0.4150.1700.0000.0000.0000.0000.0000.001

The primary characteristics of the bulk densities of the soil as a result of using a variety of tilling methods are summarized as follows. The soil tilled by BS was uniformly loose. The soil cultivated by CK showed vertically uneven bulk densities, with relatively loose upper soil and compact lower soil. The soil tilled by the RS technique was characterized by loose ridge soil and compact furrow soil, while FS yielded the opposite result. The soil tilled by AS exhibited alternate change in bulk density and alternately loosened strips of ridge and furrow.

3.2 Effects of Different Tillage Methods on the Water Storage of the Soil

Figure 2a shows the effects of various tillage techniques on the water storage of the cultivated soil. In 2012, 2013, and the early growth stage of 2014, rainfall was sufficient, and the water-holding capacity of the soil greatly increased after subsoiling. In the late growth stage of 2014, an unusual mid-summer and autumn drought occurred in the region [13]. The drought sharply reduced the amount of water that was held in the soil. Perhaps the soil moisture of the subsoiling treatment was one of the key factors for the stable production of crops. The results showed that the average water storage of BS, AS, FS, and RS was 10.9, 10.9, 9.0, and 8.2 mm, respectively, more than CK in 2012 (Fig. 2b). During the maize growth period of 2013, the hierarchical ranking of the average water storage in the soil was BS > AS > FS > RS. The average water storage in the soil of BS, AS, FS, and RS was 16.3, 14.6, 12.7, and 6.0 mm more than CK, respectively. In 2014, the average water storage in the soil of BS and AS during the maize growth period was 23.2 and 17.2 mm more than CK, while that of FS and RS was 15.7 and 7.1 mm more than CK, respectively.

Figure 2 Change in soil water storage (0–100 cm). (a) Change in soil water storage in the study period; (b) average soil water storage in the maize growth period in different years. BS, bulk subsoiling in autumn; RS, annual ridge subsoiling in autumn; FS, annual furrow subsoiling in early summer; AS, interannual alternate zone subsoiling; CK, rotary tillage in spring.
Figure 2

Change in soil water storage (0–100 cm). (a) Change in soil water storage in the study period; (b) average soil water storage in the maize growth period in different years. BS, bulk subsoiling in autumn; RS, annual ridge subsoiling in autumn; FS, annual furrow subsoiling in early summer; AS, interannual alternate zone subsoiling; CK, rotary tillage in spring.

3.3 Effects of Different Tillage Methods on the Yield and WUE of Crops

The yield and WUE of maize in different years were significantly different (Table 3). In 2012, the AS produced the highest yield followed by BS, RS, and FS, which was 18.93%, 17.22%, 11.01%, and 9.45% higher than CK, respectively (Table 3). Similarly, the result in 2014 showed that the AS produced the highest yield followed by BS, RS, and FS, which was 17.38%, 16.21%, 9.91%, and 5.90% higher than CK, respectively. In 2012 and 2013, rainfall was relatively abundant, and the use of subsoiling increased the water storage capacity of the soil and reduced the water consumption of farmland. During the crop growth period in 2012, the water consumption of the soil of AS was 22.3 mm less than CK. The water consumption of the soil of BS was 14.6 mm less than that of CK. In 2013, BS exhibited the least water consumption in the soil, which was 26.9 mm less than CK.

Table 3

Maize yield and water-use efficiency under different subsoiling treatments in 2012–2014

YearTreatmentYield (kg/ha)Water consumption (mm)WUE (kg/m3)
2012CK9473.6 d459.4 a2.06 d
BS11507.3 b444.8 d2.59 b
RS10738.4 c455.8 b2.36 c
FS10726.5 c451.8 c2.37 c
AS12188.0 a437.1 e2.79 a
2013CK10752.3 c433.2 a2.48 c
BS12788.03 a406.3 c3.15 a
RS11936.2 b421.5 b2.83 b
FS11768.0 b413.1 b2.85 b
AS12603.9 a416.1 b3.03 a
2014CK8172.0 e303.2 b2.70 c
BS9497.0 b326.0 a2.91 b
RS8981.5 c305.8 b2.94 ab
FS8654.0 d312.7 a2.77 b
AS9592.2 a311.7 b2.97 a

A severe drought occurred during the 2014 experimentation period. A large amount of water stored in the soil was consumed during the whole growth period for BS and FS, which was 22.8 and 9.5 mm more than CK, respectively. The water consumption of AS, RS, and CK was not significant. The comparison of WUE of different treatments showed that it was the highest in 2012 by AS, followed by BS, FS, and RS, which was 0.73, 0.53, 0.31, and 0.30 kg/cm3 more than CK, respectively. WUE was the highest in 2013 by BS and AS, followed by FS and RS, which was 0.67, 0.55, 0.37, and 0.35 kg/cm3 more than CK, respectively. Moreover, the results in 2014 showed that WUE was 0.27, 0.24, 0.21, and 0.07 kg/cm3 more by AS, RS, BS, and FS, respectively, compared with CK.

4 Discussion and Conclusion

Cultivation is an important agricultural practice in China, as farmland is seldom left fallow. Intense tillage and land cultivation have been a part of Chinese agriculture for thousands of years [14]. Subsoiling can reach profound soil layers and break up the plow pan. Therefore, soil conditions are usually improved by reducing the bulk density of soil and increasing soil permeability. This practice can facilitate the filtration of rainwater and increase the water content on the topsoil, thus promoting crop production [15,16].

The results of this 3-year field research revealed the effect of different tillage methods on the bulk density of the soil. The soil tilled by the BS technique was uniformly loose, and the soil tilled by the CK technique showed vertically uneven bulk densities, with relatively loose upper soil and compact lower soil. The soil tilled by the RS technique was characterized by loose ridge soil and compact furrow soil, while the FS-tilled soil yielded the opposite result. The soil tilled by the AS technique showed alternating changes in bulk density and alternately loosened strips of ridge and furrow. Previous studies demonstrated that the bulk density of the soil was closely related to the water storage capacity of the soil [17,18]. Subsoiling operations were carried out in the farmland ridge and furrow in the autumn of 2011 and early summer of 2012, respectively. The soil was not tilled deeply during the period from the 2012 crop harvest to the 2013 crop harvest. Then, subsoiling operations were carried out in the autumn of 2013 and early summer of 2014, respectively. Consequently, the bulk densities of the soil varied across the different years. However, the findings of the present research indicated that the variations in bulk densities might not affect the water storage capacity of the soil. AS and BS maintained a high water storage in the soil, which could stabilize the maize yield across years with varied rainfalls. This could be attributed to the subsoiling with aftereffect [19,20], and soil moisture retention effect across years [2]. The increased range of the average water storage in the soil during the crop growth period by BS, AS, FS, and RS was 10.9–23.2, 10.9–17.2, 9.0–15.7, and 6.0–8.2 mm, respectively, compared with CK in 3 years.

The findings of this 3-year field research suggested that subsoiling has the potential to create favorable growth conditions for maize by increasing the water content and permeability of the soil. Subsoiling methods were highly effective in increasing maize yield and WUE. Compared with the other three subsoiling methods, the AS method continued to maintain higher production capacity and WUE. Moreover, AS and BS were associated with similar soil water storage capacity. Previous studies suggested that the composite topsoil structure composed of both loose and compact soil layers in interval subsoiling could facilitate the upward movement of water to topsoil in the dry season and help crops resist lodging [4,5]. AS had the advantages of interval subsoiling and provided greater water storage capacity than BS. Consequently, AS produced higher WUE and yield compared with BS in 2012 and 2014. Compared with RS and FS, the alternate subsoiling method was superior for reducing the bulk density of the soil, improving the structure of the soil, increasing water storage capacity of the soil, and maintaining higher crop productivity. Bulk tillage usually consumed more energy than zone subsoiling [21], and thus AS was a cost-effective method of subsoiling. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the AS method is a more beneficial subsoiling method compared with the BS, RS, FS, and CK methods.

Acknowledgments

The study was conducted with the support of the National High-Level Talent Special Support Program of China (outstanding young scholars), the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (201503105, 201303125), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (178093), and the Cultivation Plan for Youth Agricultural Science and Technology Innovative Talents of Liaoning Province (2014017).

  1. Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest

Reference

[1] Wuest S.B., Williams J.D., Gollany H.T., Tillage and perennial grass effects on ponded infiltration for seven semi-arid loess soils, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2006, 61(2), 218-223Search in Google Scholar

[2] Lampurlanés J., Plaza-Bonilla D., Álvaro-Fuentes J., Cantero- Martínez C., Long-term analysis of soil water conservation and crop yield under different tillage systems in Mediterranean rainfed conditions, Field Crops Research, 2016, 189, 59-6710.1016/j.fcr.2016.02.010Search in Google Scholar

[3] Sang X., Wang D., Lin X., Effects of tillage practices on water consumption characteristics and grain yield of winter wheat under different soil moisture conditions, Soil & Tillage Research, 2016, 163, 185–19410.1016/j.still.2016.06.003Search in Google Scholar

[4] Bai W., Sun Z., Zheng J., Hao W., Liu Q., Liu Y., et al., Furrow loose and ridge compaction plough layer improves spring maize yield and water use efficiency, Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2014, 21(11), 81-90Search in Google Scholar

[5] Yang X., Pang H., Li Y., Ren T., Dong G., Guo Z., et al., Effects of deep rotary sub-soiling tillage on the physical properties and crop growth of the sticky loamy soil in north China, Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2013, 46(16), 3401-3412Search in Google Scholar

[6] Ekelöf J., Guamán V., Jensen E. S., Persson P., Inter-Row Subsoiling and Irrigation Increase Starch Potato Yield, Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Quality Parameters, Potato Research, 2015, 58(1), 15-2710.1007/s11540-014-9261-5Search in Google Scholar

[7] McGarry D., Bridge B.J., Radford B.J., Contrasting soil physical properties after zero and traditional tillage of an alluvial soil in the semi- arid subtropics, Soil & Tillage Research, 2000, 53(2), 105-11510.1016/S0167-1987(99)00091-4Search in Google Scholar

[8] Ahmed S.M., Adeeb A., Topsoiling and Subsoiling as Rainwater Harvesting Techniques for Arid Climates: a Case Study from Sudan, Planet Risk, 2014, 2(1), 40-45Search in Google Scholar

[9] Abu-Hamdeh N.H., Compaction and sub-soiling effects on maize growth and soil bulk density, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2003, 67(4), 1212-121810.2136/sssaj2003.1213Search in Google Scholar

[10] Martin-Rueda L., Munoz-Guerra L.M., Yunta F., Tillage and crop rotation effects on barley yield and soil nutrients on a Calciortidic Haploxeralf, Soil & Tillage Research, 2007, 92, 1-910.1016/j.still.2005.10.006Search in Google Scholar

[11] Tian S., Wang Y., Ning T., Li N., Zhao H., Wang B., et al., Continued no-till and subsoiling improved soil organic carbon and soil aggregation levels, Agronomy Journal, 2014, 106(1), 212-21810.2134/agronj2013.0288Search in Google Scholar

[12] Feng L.S., Sun Z.X., Yan C.R., Zheng M.Z., Zheng J.M., Yang N., et al., Effect of farmland surface covered porous mulch materials on soil water, heat and water use efficiency of maize, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2015, 25(S1), 22-27Search in Google Scholar

[13] Zhang L., Yan H., Cheng L., The summer of 2014, the influence of climate of the summer of 2014 on agricultural production, Chinese Journal of agrometeorology, 2014, 35(5), 600-602Search in Google Scholar

[14] Zuo S., Intensive cultivation is the soul of the sustainable development of agriculture in China, Agricultural Archaeology, 2003, (3), 50-55Search in Google Scholar

[15] Hemmat A., Eskandari I., Conservation tillage practices for winter wheat-fallow farming on a clay loam soil (Calcisols) under temperate continental climate of northwestern Iran, Field Crops Research, 2004, 89(1), 123-13310.1016/j.fcr.2004.01.019Search in Google Scholar

[16] Hemmat A., Eskandari I., Tillage system effects upon productivity of a dryland winter wheat-chickpea rotation in the northwest region of Iran, Soil & Tillage Research, 2004, 78(1), 69-8110.1016/j.still.2004.02.013Search in Google Scholar

[17] Gupta S.C., Larson W.E., Estimating soil water retention characteristics from particle size distribution, organic matter percent, and bulk density, Water Resources Research, 1979, 15(6), 1633-163510.1029/WR015i006p01633Search in Google Scholar

[18] Arya L.M., Paris J.F., A physicoempirical model to predict the soil moisture characteristic from particle-size distribution and bulk density data, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1981, 45(6), 1023-103010.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500060004xSearch in Google Scholar

[19] Dyck M., Malhi S.S., Nyborg M., Puurveen D., Effects of short-term tillage of a long-term no-till land on crop yield and nutrient uptake in two contrasting soil types, Sustainable Agriculture Research, 2016, 5(3), 3210.5539/sar.v5n3p32Search in Google Scholar

[20] Chaghazardi H.R., Jahansouz M.R., Ahmadi A., Gorji M., Effects of tillage management on productivity of wheat and chickpea under cold, rainfed conditions in western Iran, Soil & Tillage Research, 2016, 162, 26-3310.1016/j.still.2016.04.010Search in Google Scholar

[21] Guo X., Gu J., Analysis to the bulk subsoiling draft, Journal of Shanxi Teacher’s University Natural Science Edition, 1999, 13(4), 31-35Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2017-7-17
Accepted: 2017-9-8
Published Online: 2017-11-30

© 2017 Yinzhu Jiao et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Research Articles
  2. Field Performance and Genetic Fidelity of Micropropagated Plants of Coffea canephora (Pierre ex A. Froehner)
  3. Research Articles
  4. Foliage maturity of Quercus ilex affects the larval development of a Croatian coastal population of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
  5. Research Articles
  6. Structural and functional impact of SNPs in P-selectin gene: A comprehensive in silico analysis
  7. Research Articles
  8. High embryogenic ability and regeneration from floral axis of Amorphophallus konjac (Araceae)
  9. Research Articles
  10. Terpene content of wine from the aromatic grape variety ‘Irsai Oliver’ (Vitis vinifera L.) depends on maceration time
  11. Research Articles
  12. Light and smell stimulus protocol reduced negative frontal EEG asymmetry and improved mood
  13. Research Articles
  14. Swailing affects seed germination of plants of European bio-and agricenosis in a different way
  15. Research Articles
  16. Survey analysis of soil physicochemical factors that influence the distribution of Cordyceps in the Xiahe Region of Gansu Province
  17. Research Articles
  18. Production of biogas: relationship between methanogenic and sulfate-reducing microorganisms
  19. Research Articles
  20. Pentraxin 3 and atherosclerosis among type 2 diabetic patients
  21. Research Articles
  22. Evaluation of ribosomal P0 peptide as a vaccine candidate against Argulus siamensis in Labeo rohita
  23. Research Articles
  24. Variation of autosomes and X chromosome STR in breast cancer and gynecological cancer tissues
  25. Research Articles
  26. Response of antioxidant enzymes to cadmium-induced cytotoxicity in rat cerebellar granule neurons
  27. Research Articles
  28. Cardiac hypertrophy and IGF-1 response to testosterone propionate treatment in trained male rats
  29. Research Articles
  30. BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA (BANCR) advances the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via cell cycle
  31. Research Articles
  32. The influence of soil salinity on volatile organic compounds emission and photosynthetic parameters of Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties
  33. Research Articles
  34. Simple Protocol for immunoglobulin G Purification from Camel “Camelus dromedarius” Serum
  35. Research Articles
  36. Expression of psbA1 gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is influenced by CO2
  37. Research Articles
  38. Frequency of Thrombophilic Gene Mutations in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis and in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
  39. Research Articles
  40. Evaluation of anticancer properties of a new α-methylene-δ-lactone DL-249 on two cancer cell lines
  41. Research Articles
  42. Impact of heated waters on water quality and macroinvertebrate community in the Narew River (Poland)
  43. Research Articles
  44. Effects of Some Additives on In Vitro True Digestibility of Wheat and Soybean Straw Pellets
  45. Research Articles
  46. RNAi-mediated gene silencing in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
  47. Research Articles
  48. New pathway of icariin-induced MSC osteogenesis: transcriptional activation of TAZ/Runx2 by PI3K/Akt
  49. Research Articles
  50. Tudor-SN protein expression in colorectal cancer and its association with clinical characteristics
  51. Research Articles
  52. Proteomic and bioinformatics analysis of human saliva for the dental-risk assessment
  53. Research Articles
  54. Reverse transcriptase sequences from mulberry LTR retrotransposons: characterization analysis
  55. Research Articles
  56. Strain Stimulations with Different Intensities on Fibroblast Viability and Protein Expression
  57. Research Articles
  58. miR-539 mediates osteoblast mineralization by regulating Distal-less genes 2 in MC3T3-E1 cell line
  59. Research Articles
  60. Diversity of Intestinal Microbiota in Coilia ectenes from Lake Taihu, China
  61. Research Articles
  62. The production of arabitol by a novel plant yeast isolate Candida parapsilosis 27RL-4
  63. Research Articles
  64. Effectiveness of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 on young plants of Vitis vinifera L.
  65. Research Articles
  66. Changes of photochemical efficiency and epidermal polyphenols content of Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis juliflora leaves exposed to cadmium and copper
  67. Research Articles
  68. Ultraweak photon emission in strawberry fruit during ripening and aging is related to energy level
  69. Research Articles
  70. Molecular cloning, characterization and evolutionary analysis of leptin gene in Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus
  71. Research Articles
  72. Longevity and stress resistance are affected by activation of TOR/Myc in progenitor cells of Drosophila gut
  73. Research Articles
  74. Curcumin attenuates oxidative stress in liver in Type 1 diabetic rats
  75. Research Articles
  76. Risk factors of long-term postoperative renal function after partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney
  77. Research Articles
  78. Developmental anomalies of the right hepatic lobe: systematic comparative analysis of radiological features
  79. Review articles
  80. Genetic Defects Underlie the Non-syndromic Autosomal Recessive Intellectual Disability (NS-ARID)
  81. Review articles
  82. Research Progress on Tissue Culture and Genetic Transformation of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)
  83. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  84. MiR-107 inhibits proliferation of lung cancer cells through regulating TP53 regulated inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (TRIAP1)
  85. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  86. The functional role of exosome microRNAs in lung cancer
  87. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  88. The diagnostic value of serum microRNA-183 and TK1 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis
  89. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  90. Screening feature modules and pathways in glioma using EgoNet
  91. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  92. Isoliquiritigenin inhibits colorectal cancer cells HCT-116 growth by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway
  93. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  94. Association between Caveolin-1 expression and pathophysiological progression of femoral nerves in diabetic foot amputation patients
  95. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  96. Biomarkers in patients with myocardial fibrosis
  97. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  98. Dysregulated pathways for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting
  99. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  100. Individualized identification of disturbed pathways in sickle cell disease
  101. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  102. The prognostic value of serum PCT, hs-CRP, and IL-6 in patients with sepsis
  103. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  104. Sevoflurane-medicated the pathway of chemokine receptors bind chemokines in patients undergoing CABG
  105. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  106. The functional role of microRNAs in laryngeal carcinoma
  107. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  108. Revealing pathway cross-talk related to diabetes mellitus by Monte Carlo Cross-Validation analysis
  109. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  110. Correlation between CDKAL1 rs10946398C>A single nucleotide polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility: A meta-analysis
  111. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  112. Effects of environmental variables on seedling distribution of rare and endangered Dacrydium pierrei
  113. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  114. Study on synthesis and properties of nanoparticles loaded with amaryllidaceous alkaloids
  115. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  116. Bacterial Infection Potato Tuber Soft Rot Disease Detection Based on Electronic Nose
  117. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  118. Effects of subsoiling on maize yield and water-use efficiency in a semiarid area
https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2017-0045
Keywords for this article
Rain-fed farmland; soil water-holding capacity; water-use efficiency; zone subsoiling
Creative Commons
BY-NC-ND 4.0

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Research Articles
  2. Field Performance and Genetic Fidelity of Micropropagated Plants of Coffea canephora (Pierre ex A. Froehner)
  3. Research Articles
  4. Foliage maturity of Quercus ilex affects the larval development of a Croatian coastal population of Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
  5. Research Articles
  6. Structural and functional impact of SNPs in P-selectin gene: A comprehensive in silico analysis
  7. Research Articles
  8. High embryogenic ability and regeneration from floral axis of Amorphophallus konjac (Araceae)
  9. Research Articles
  10. Terpene content of wine from the aromatic grape variety ‘Irsai Oliver’ (Vitis vinifera L.) depends on maceration time
  11. Research Articles
  12. Light and smell stimulus protocol reduced negative frontal EEG asymmetry and improved mood
  13. Research Articles
  14. Swailing affects seed germination of plants of European bio-and agricenosis in a different way
  15. Research Articles
  16. Survey analysis of soil physicochemical factors that influence the distribution of Cordyceps in the Xiahe Region of Gansu Province
  17. Research Articles
  18. Production of biogas: relationship between methanogenic and sulfate-reducing microorganisms
  19. Research Articles
  20. Pentraxin 3 and atherosclerosis among type 2 diabetic patients
  21. Research Articles
  22. Evaluation of ribosomal P0 peptide as a vaccine candidate against Argulus siamensis in Labeo rohita
  23. Research Articles
  24. Variation of autosomes and X chromosome STR in breast cancer and gynecological cancer tissues
  25. Research Articles
  26. Response of antioxidant enzymes to cadmium-induced cytotoxicity in rat cerebellar granule neurons
  27. Research Articles
  28. Cardiac hypertrophy and IGF-1 response to testosterone propionate treatment in trained male rats
  29. Research Articles
  30. BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA (BANCR) advances the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via cell cycle
  31. Research Articles
  32. The influence of soil salinity on volatile organic compounds emission and photosynthetic parameters of Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties
  33. Research Articles
  34. Simple Protocol for immunoglobulin G Purification from Camel “Camelus dromedarius” Serum
  35. Research Articles
  36. Expression of psbA1 gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is influenced by CO2
  37. Research Articles
  38. Frequency of Thrombophilic Gene Mutations in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis and in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
  39. Research Articles
  40. Evaluation of anticancer properties of a new α-methylene-δ-lactone DL-249 on two cancer cell lines
  41. Research Articles
  42. Impact of heated waters on water quality and macroinvertebrate community in the Narew River (Poland)
  43. Research Articles
  44. Effects of Some Additives on In Vitro True Digestibility of Wheat and Soybean Straw Pellets
  45. Research Articles
  46. RNAi-mediated gene silencing in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
  47. Research Articles
  48. New pathway of icariin-induced MSC osteogenesis: transcriptional activation of TAZ/Runx2 by PI3K/Akt
  49. Research Articles
  50. Tudor-SN protein expression in colorectal cancer and its association with clinical characteristics
  51. Research Articles
  52. Proteomic and bioinformatics analysis of human saliva for the dental-risk assessment
  53. Research Articles
  54. Reverse transcriptase sequences from mulberry LTR retrotransposons: characterization analysis
  55. Research Articles
  56. Strain Stimulations with Different Intensities on Fibroblast Viability and Protein Expression
  57. Research Articles
  58. miR-539 mediates osteoblast mineralization by regulating Distal-less genes 2 in MC3T3-E1 cell line
  59. Research Articles
  60. Diversity of Intestinal Microbiota in Coilia ectenes from Lake Taihu, China
  61. Research Articles
  62. The production of arabitol by a novel plant yeast isolate Candida parapsilosis 27RL-4
  63. Research Articles
  64. Effectiveness of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 on young plants of Vitis vinifera L.
  65. Research Articles
  66. Changes of photochemical efficiency and epidermal polyphenols content of Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis juliflora leaves exposed to cadmium and copper
  67. Research Articles
  68. Ultraweak photon emission in strawberry fruit during ripening and aging is related to energy level
  69. Research Articles
  70. Molecular cloning, characterization and evolutionary analysis of leptin gene in Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus
  71. Research Articles
  72. Longevity and stress resistance are affected by activation of TOR/Myc in progenitor cells of Drosophila gut
  73. Research Articles
  74. Curcumin attenuates oxidative stress in liver in Type 1 diabetic rats
  75. Research Articles
  76. Risk factors of long-term postoperative renal function after partial nephrectomy in a solitary kidney
  77. Research Articles
  78. Developmental anomalies of the right hepatic lobe: systematic comparative analysis of radiological features
  79. Review articles
  80. Genetic Defects Underlie the Non-syndromic Autosomal Recessive Intellectual Disability (NS-ARID)
  81. Review articles
  82. Research Progress on Tissue Culture and Genetic Transformation of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)
  83. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  84. MiR-107 inhibits proliferation of lung cancer cells through regulating TP53 regulated inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (TRIAP1)
  85. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  86. The functional role of exosome microRNAs in lung cancer
  87. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  88. The diagnostic value of serum microRNA-183 and TK1 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer diagnosis
  89. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  90. Screening feature modules and pathways in glioma using EgoNet
  91. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  92. Isoliquiritigenin inhibits colorectal cancer cells HCT-116 growth by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway
  93. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  94. Association between Caveolin-1 expression and pathophysiological progression of femoral nerves in diabetic foot amputation patients
  95. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  96. Biomarkers in patients with myocardial fibrosis
  97. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  98. Dysregulated pathways for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting
  99. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  100. Individualized identification of disturbed pathways in sickle cell disease
  101. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  102. The prognostic value of serum PCT, hs-CRP, and IL-6 in patients with sepsis
  103. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  104. Sevoflurane-medicated the pathway of chemokine receptors bind chemokines in patients undergoing CABG
  105. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  106. The functional role of microRNAs in laryngeal carcinoma
  107. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  108. Revealing pathway cross-talk related to diabetes mellitus by Monte Carlo Cross-Validation analysis
  109. Topical Issue On Precision Medicine
  110. Correlation between CDKAL1 rs10946398C>A single nucleotide polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility: A meta-analysis
  111. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  112. Effects of environmental variables on seedling distribution of rare and endangered Dacrydium pierrei
  113. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  114. Study on synthesis and properties of nanoparticles loaded with amaryllidaceous alkaloids
  115. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  116. Bacterial Infection Potato Tuber Soft Rot Disease Detection Based on Electronic Nose
  117. Special Issue on Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  118. Effects of subsoiling on maize yield and water-use efficiency in a semiarid area
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 18.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/biol-2017-0045/html
Scroll to top button