Abstract:
In Romania, maize is the main cultivated plant and maize crops are extremely important from an economic point of
view. Research with the no-tillage system applied to maize crops were made in the Romanian Plain, Șarpe (1968, 1987,
2000, 2008, 2009), in Banat, Moțiu (2004) and in the Flood Plain of the Danube River, Șarpe (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008).
The results obtained in Romania confirm the results of the research made in other countries: Philips and Young (1973),
Köller (1999), Derpsch (2001).
In the conventional system, under the weather conditions of the year 2011, the grain yield recorded from the maize
crops amounted to 6,200 kg/ha, while in the no-tillage system a grain yield of 6,500 kg/ha was recorded ‒ so the yields
obtained in the two technological systems were practically equal. However, there were significant differences in terms
of Diesel fuel consumption. For example, in the conventional system, a 78 litres/ha Diesel fuel consumption was
recorded, while in the no-tillage system this amounted to only 25 litres/ha. Big differences were also recorded as
regards the expenses in the conventional and no-tillage systems. In the conventional system, the expenses incurred for
all the mechanical works performed from the sowing stage to the harvesting stage amounted to RON 2,350.00 per
hectare, while in the no-tillage system, they amounted to only RON 610,00 per hectare.
