"No-Till" is a key element of the ‘modern cropping system/ Canadian System’ in the Kulunda steppe. In contrast to minimum tillage an innovative modern direct seeding machine is used. The successful implementation of “No-Till” requires an adaptation of the whole cropping system including crop rotation. Rotation includes a succession of cereal crops (e.g. spring wheat), legumes (peas), and oil seed crops. In the study area predominantly spring cereals are grown. The direct seeder ‘Condor tine seeder’ (Amazone) was used for direct seeding. In contrast to the SZS 2.1 seeder used for minimum tillage it has flexible, individually depth-guided tine coulters, which ensure a high precision of seed placement. When opening the seed furrow, the narrow coulter moves little soil, so that the valuable soil moisture remains in the soil, and there is sufficient fine soil to ensure the optimum seed/ soil contact. Straw is safely cleared from the seed furrow, preventing the "hairpinning-effect" which is the pressing of straw by the coulter into the sowing slit. During the sowing period fertilizers are applied and broad spectrum herbicide in autumn and selective pesticides in the growing season are sprayed which help to increase yield.
No-till works without intensive primary tillage and stubble cultivation that saves time, fuel and reduces soil water evaporation. No-till increases soil aggregate stability, helps to reduce the risk of soil erosion, leads to a higher soil fertility and reduces soil water losses. Weed control through crop rotation and herbicide application allows to omit mechanical weeding and thus to protect the soil against fertility decline and soil water loss. Fertilization becomes more important, because of the decreased mineralization rate under no soil tillage, especially at the beginning of the conversion of the cropping system and until soil organic matter could build up in the soil.
The Technology including crop rotation was tested in the field in 4 test plots with 4 repetitions at the test site in Poluyamki. Results showed that the intensity of soil tillage and seeding methods used had a great influence on crop establishment and expected yields. It was demonstrated that no tillage leads to higher water use efficiency and highest yields. Positive effects were also observed regarding soil structure and soil fertility already after 3 years. Positive effects were also observed regarding soil structure and soil fertility already after 3 years. Minimized soil disturbance led to higher aggregate stability, which leads to a lower risk of wind erosion, increased soil organic carbon storage and soil fertility as well as available soil water content. The Modern Canadian system caused fixed production costs in form of annual depreciation and also additional costs due to the application of fertilizers and pesticides, the prices of which increased in the last four years. Due to not finalised land rights reforms, uncertain credits and harvest insurance farmers are reluctant to invest in new machines.
The test site in Poluyamki is located in the dry steppe of the border region next to Kazakhstan, where, due to the climatic conditions, no natural afforestation occurs, and the planted windbreaks don’t grow vigorously due to the prevailing aridity. The annual precipitation is under 300 mm a year. Probably the greatest climatic influence factor is the precipitation - in terms of quantity and space/ time distribution and, due to high summer temperatures, the high rates of evapotranspiration. The total yearly precipitation rate is the primary yield-limiting factor in all steppe regions. The ratio between precipitation and evaporation is negative. In the late weeks of spring, prolonged droughts must be expected in 5-year cycles, limiting germination and crop establishment. The soils are classed among those of cool-tempered grasslands. Due to their physical and chemical characteristics, these soils (Chernozems and Kastanozems) have high agronomic potential.
Lugar: Mikhaylovski district (Pavlovski district, Mamontovski district), Russian Federation/Altai Krai, Federación Rusa
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados:
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (0.13 km²)
¿En un área de protección permanente?:
Fecha de la implementación: hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (n.d.) | Costos totales por insumo (n.d.) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
Mano de obra | |||||
labour | ha | 1,0 | 4,12 | 4,12 | |
Equipo | |||||
machine use | ha | 1,0 | 15,96 | 15,96 | |
fuel | ha | 1,0 | 25,49 | 25,49 | |
Material para plantas | |||||
seeds | ha | 1,0 | 19,37 | 19,37 | |
seedlings | ha | 1,0 | 30,83 | 30,83 | |
Fertilizantes y biocidas | |||||
fertilizer | ha | 1,0 | 9,42 | 9,42 | |
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología | 105.19 | ||||
Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD | 105.19 |
In the first years after the change of the cropping system, there is an increased risk of crop losses due not correct/suitable management of the new cropping system
Initial costs, first years for herbicides
but increase of costs for pesticides and fertilizer, decrease for fuel and labor
in general yes, but food security is not a problem in this region
There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption, but this trend depends on different natural and socioeconomic factors, like precipitation or the economic situation and financial power of the farmers
There is a lower risk for compaction damage than under under traditional ploughing
The no-till system works without mechanical weed control, therefore it must be a chemical weed control especially in the first years of no-till system.
higher content of soil moisture