Farming and Rotation Tillage System in Wheat/Maize Rotation Area

Minimal/zero tillage-based cultivation system has been widely extended in areas under the wheat/corn double-cropping system since the early 1990s. Its advantages,being time and labor saving and environment-friendly,are obvious,whereas its disadvantages are also getting prominent with the years passing by. A survey was carried out on willingness of a hundred farmers to adopt the practice in Ningjin County. Results showed long-term minimal/zero tillage might lead to decrease in yield and economic benefit of wheat. It is more advisable to deep plow the fields after 3～5 years of minimal/zero tillage. Comparison between the wheat/corn rotation system and the potato/cotton one in economic benefit showed that crop rotation is a new approach to extension of the rotation tillage system in areas under the wheat/corn double-cropping system.