Effects of wide-ridge and narrow-row no-till cultivation on soil water and maize yield

To resolve the problems faced while no-till seeding on the original ridge and to avoid instability of planter, the furrow was covered by soil to form wide-ridge. The field experiment was conducted at Sujiatun in Liaoning Province in 2007-2009, and the effects of wide-ridge with wide-narrow row no-till cultivation on soil bulk density, soil water content, maize growth and water use efficiency were also studied. The results indicated that wide-ridge with wide-narrow row no-till seeding could increase the capacity of water storage and water content by 9.39%-11.03% in the seeding stage. Compared with average ridge row, the population structure was improved effectively under wide-ridge with wide-narrow row no-till cultivation. From the study it was also found that the growth of individual plants was better, dry matter accumulation and LAI were enhanced. The yield was increased by 6.70%-9.49%, and the soil water use efficiency was improved by 4.96%-8.56%. It was a perfect planting mode for conservation tillage in the northeast of China.