Abstract:
In the interval 2004 – 2008 a series of experiments were made with
the no-tillage system applied to modified soybean crops cultivated on the
pedooclimatic conditions from the Danube River meadow. The soil is
aluvionary and it contains 2,5 – 4,0% humus and 28 – 34% clay. In all these
years the soybean was cultivated after maize crops. The maize was harvested
by Class combine equipped with a chopper for the maize plant stalks.
The no – tillage was compared with the conventional system. In the
conventional system, in the autumn, after the maize was harvested, the land
was ploughed 28 – 30 cm de3ep. In spring, two tilling operations were
performed, namely disking + harrowing. The soybean was sowed by the
Romanian made STC-8 sowing machine. After the soybean plant had
sprouted, 3 mechanical hoeing runs were performed during the rows,
followed by 3 manual hoeing runs along the rows.
In the no – tillage system there was no ploughing, the soybean was
sowed directly in the post maize crop stubble field by means of a Massey –
Fergusson sowing machine. After the soybean had sprouted, the annual and
perennial weed control was performed by applying the Roundup Ready,
which contains 360 g/litre glyphosate.
In all these years, the soybean yield was practically equal in both
technological systems, conventional and no – tillage. Nevertheless, there
were great difference in terms of fuel consumption. In the conventional
system, a fuel 79 – 103 litres per hectare was recorded, whereas in the no –
tillage system the consumption recorded was much smaller, namely 12 – 23
litres per hectare.
Based on the results obtained in the 4 years when the tests were run,
the general conclusion was drawn that the no – tillage system is more
economic and profitable than the conventional system.
