[Effects of different tillage and sowing practices on root growth, soil moisture, and soil nitrate nitrogen content...

With deep rotary tillage before sowing (DRT) as control, the effects of shallow rotary tillage with simultaneous sowing (SRT) and strip tillage under no tillage conditions along with sowing (NT) on root growth, soil moisture, and soil nitrate content of wheat (Triticum aestivum) after rice (Oryza sativa) were examined from 2016 to 2018. Compared with DRT, NT and SRT resulted in higher soil water content, and lower soil nitrate content in the plow layer before booting. There was no significant difference in root weight density and root surface area density among the treatments at jointing and anthesis stages. No significant difference was found in grain yield and aboveground plant nitrogen uptake among the treatments in the growing season of 2016-2017. In the growing season of 2017-2018, NT and SRT resulted in 10.9% and 10.5% higher grain yield and 17.5% and 12.0% higher aboveground plant nitrogen uptake than DRT, respectively. Compared with DRT and SRT, NT resulted in better work efficiency and lower seedling missing rate. In conclusion, NT could effectively improve sowing quality, enhance soil water storage ability, reduce the risk of soil nitrogen leaching, and ultimately enhance wheat yield and environmental benefits in the growing stage of wheat plantation after rice.