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Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

ISSN 2095-7505

ISSN 2095-977X(Online)

CN 10-1204/S

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Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.    2015, Vol. 2 Issue (2) : 179-185    https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2015058
RESEARCH ARTICLE
The effect of conservation tillage on crop yield in China
Hongwen LI1,*(),Jin HE1,Huanwen GAO1,Ying CHEN2,Zhiqiang ZHANG1
1. College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
2. Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3T 5V6, Canada
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Abstract

Traditional agricultural practices have resulted in decreased soil fertility, shortage of water resources and deterioration of agricultural ecological environment, which are seriously affecting grain production. Conservation tillage (CT) research has been developed and applied in China since the 1960s and 1970s, and a series of development policies have been issued by the Chinese government. Recent research and application have shown that CT has positive effects on crop yields in China. According to the data from the Conservation Tillage Research Center (CTRC), Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the mean crop yield increase can be at least 4% in double cropping systems in the North China Plain and 6% in single cropping systems in the dryland areas of North-east and North-west China. Crop yield increase was particularly significant in dryland areas and drought years. The mechanism for the yield increase in CT system can be attributed to enhanced soil water content and improved soil properties. Development strategies have been implemented to accelerate the adoption of CT in China.
Keywords conservation tillage      crop yield      soil structure      development strategies     
Corresponding Author(s): Hongwen LI   
Just Accepted Date: 04 June 2015   Online First Date: 24 June 2015    Issue Date: 25 September 2015
 Cite this article:   
Hongwen LI,Jin HE,Huanwen GAO, et al. The effect of conservation tillage on crop yield in China[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2015, 2(2): 179-185.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2015058
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2015/V2/I2/179
PolicyRelated Content
State Council: No. 1 Document (2005–2012)Mandated the development of CT in China: e.g., reform of traditional farming methods, and develop conservation tillage; continuously implement demonstration programs of conservation tillage; continue to implement conservation tillage projects.
The Announcement of the Main Recent Works Aimed at Saving Society (2005)Formulated a plan for implementing conservation tillage
Central Committee for Communist Party of China: Decision on Some Importance Issues of CPC Central Committee on Promoting Rural Reform and Development (2008)Encouraged famers to improve soil quality, extend rational fertilization and conservation tillage
Ministry of Agriculture: Demonstration Project for Conservation Tillage (2002–)Funded 30 million CNY per year to promote CT research and extension
Ministry of Agriculture and National Development and Reform Commission: National Construction Program of Conservation Tillage (2009–2015)Funded 1.2 billion CNY to construct 600 high standard CT regions
National Development & Reform Commission: China’s Policies and Actions on Climate Change (2014)Important agricultural measures to control greenhouse gas emission
The 11th Five-Year Plan for National Rural Economic and Social DevelopmentReform of tillage methods, and development of conservation tillage
Ministry of Water Resource: The Policy Outline for Water-Saving Technologies in China (2005)Extending conservation tillage
Ministry of Forestry: Decision of the State Council on Further Consolidating Efforts to Prevent and Control Desertification (2005)Promoted CT as one of the main measures to manage desertified lands
Ministry of Environmental Protection: White Paper of Chinese Environment Protection (1996–2005)Promoted the development of CT
Tab.1  Some development policies of CT in China
AreasSiteCropTreatmentIncrease
TTCT
North-east ridge tillage areasSujiatun, LiaoningMaize9.9410.465.2%
Zhangwu, LiaoningMaize9.4810.6512.3%
Fuxin, LiaoningMaize9.5310.8513.9%
North dryland areas (Loess Plateau, North China along the Great Wall areas)Linfen*, Shanxi[7]Winter wheat2.042.8137.7%
Linfen*, Shanxi[8]Winter wheat3.053.256.6%
Shouyang, Shanxi[9]Maize4.805.4012.5%
Wuchuan, Inner Mongolia[10]Spring wheat1.271.4010.2%
Lanxi, Inner Mongolia[11]Maize9.759.972.3%
Fengning, Hebei[12]Maize5.886.276.6%
Spring wheat2.672.908.6%
Changping, Beijing[12]Maize7.037.212.6%
North China Plain annual double cropping areasPingdu, ShandongMaize8.949.8910.6%
Winter wheat5.796.085.0%
Daxing*, Beijing[13]Maize5.785.932.6%
Winter wheat4.714.883.6%
Daxing*, Beijing[14]Maize6.276.534.1%
Winter wheat4.774.851.7%
Baodi, Tianjin[12]Maize7.337.29-0.6%
Winter wheat6.116.160.8%
Gaocheng, Hebei[15]Maize7.137.231.4%
Winter wheat5.736.004.7%
Dingxing, Hebei[16]Maize8.909.405.6%
Winter wheat4.504.602.2%
Shenze, HebeiMaize6.896.991.5%
Winter wheat4.925.032.2%
Xinmi, HenanMaize8.78.882.1%
Winter wheat6.817.347.8%
Weinan, ShaanxiMaize9.5710.439.0%
Winter wheat6.126.384.2%
North-west dryland areasZhenyuan, GansuWinter wheat6.026.569.0%
Xifeng, Gansun[12]Maize6.907.336.2%
Winter wheat5.276.2819.2%
North-west oasis farming areasZhangye, Gansu[17]Maize11.3611.803.9%
Spring wheat5.906.001.7%
Tab.2  Mean crop yields (t·hm-2) for traditional tillage (TT) and conservation (CT) at experimental sites around China
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