Combining Ridge with No-Tillage in Lowland Rice-Based Cropping System: Long-Term Effect on Soil and Rice Yield

A tillage method of combining ridge with no-tillage (RNT) was employed in lowland rice-based cropping system to study the long-term effects of RNT on soil profile pattern, soil water stable aggregate distribution, nutrients stratification and yields of rice and post-rice crops. After flooded paddy field (FPF) was practiced with RNT for a long time, soil profile changed from G to A-P-G, and horizon G was shifted to a deeper position in the profile. Also the proportion of macroaggregate (> 2 mm) increased, whereas the proportion of silt and clay (< 0.053 mm) decreased under RNT, indicating a better soil structure that will prevent erosion. RNT helped to control leaching and significantly improved total N, P, K and organic matter in soil. The highest crop yields were found under RNT system every year, and total crop yields were higher under conventional paddy-upland rotation tillage (CR) than under FPF, except in 2003 and 2006 when serious drought occurred. RNT was proven to be a better tillage method for lowland rice-based cropping system.