Strip Tillage Improves Grain Yield and Nitrogen Efficiency in Wheat under a Rice–Wheat System in China

Abstract

To characterize the adaptability of strip tillage for wheat production in a rice–wheat rotation system in China, a two-year experiment was conducted. Three methods of tillage and sowing were designed, including broadcast and drill sowing following full tillage (TS1 and TS2) as well as drill sowing following strip tillage (TS3), under two planting densities. Compared to TS2, TS1 only increased seedling tiller number (by 17%–54%) at the beginning of the over-wintering stage, while TS3 improved tiller number, leaf area, and shoot weight (by 17%–39%, 14%–15%, and 19%–27%, respectively), achieving individual seedlings with improved growth vigor. An increased planting density (300 vs. 225 plants m−2) significantly promoted culms, leaf area, and shoot weight per m2 seedlings (by 8%–14%, 7%–23%, and 11%–19%, respectively) under TS3, improving seedling growth quality. The present results indicate that vigorous seedling growth promoted the potential and synergy of the source and sink (maximum leaf area, grains per m2, and sink–source ratio), thereby increasing grain yield. Furthermore, TS3 promoted nitrogen (N) uptake (by 7%–9%) compared with TS1 and TS2. The present study highlights the good adaptability and applicability of strip tillage for the environmentally conscious and efficient production of wheat in rice–wheat rotation systems.