Effects of Subsoiling on Soil Moisture under No-tillage 2 Years Later

Objective In order to improve the water use efficiency under conservation tillage,the effects of subsoiling on soil moisture under no-tillage 2 years later was studied.MethodA field experiment of 40 cm subsoiling under no-tillage 2 years later was operated from 2005 to 2006. Based on the data of soil moisture and crop yield,the physical basis of subsoiling for water conservation and yield increasing was analyzed. Result Soil water storage under subsoiling from soil surface to top 100 cm was more than no-tillage in growth season. In 0-100cm soil depth,the soil moisture in 50-100 cm depth under subsoiling were higher compared with no-tillage,which increased when it was dry and scarce in rain and decreased when it was rainy with soil depth increasing. Compared with no-tillage,subsoiling reduced the water consumption of oats in the 0-50 cm depth and increased the water consumption in the 50-100 cm depth. Compared to no-tillage,subsoiling increased the yield by 18.29% and water use efficiency by 16.8% in two years average. The effects of subsoiling on water conservation and yield increase were affected by precipitation,well-proportioned rainfall was better to increase yield and water use efficiency. Meanwhile,subsoiling decreased bulk density,which increased the available precipitation.ConclusionSubsoiling under no-tillage is an effective rotation tillage to content of more soil moisture and improvement of water use efficiency in ecotone of north China.