Effects of deep vertically rotary tillage on soil water and water use efficiency in northern China’s Huang-huai-hai Region

Annual rotary tillage often can create a compacted plough pan in shallow soil layers, and result in the decrease of soil fertility and crop yield due to the reduction of water storage and nutrient supply. Meanwhile, the decreased water use efficiency has worsened the imbalance between supply and demand of agricultural water, especially in water shortage regions. In order to minimize such negative effects caused by annual rotary tillage, a new deep soil tillage method called deep vertically rotary tillage with use of vertically corkscrew aiguilles was implemented to test its role in improving soil water movement and water use efficiency in northern China's Huang-huai-hai region. The results showed that deep vertically rotary tillage can provide a new and effective way to break up the compacted plough pan, solve the shallow ti1lage layer problem and increase water use efficiency.