Effects of Ridge-Furrow Tillage on Soil Water and Crop Yield in Semiarid Region

Abstract

Through field experiments, effects of ridge-furrow tillage with different surface configurations and crop planted in furrow, on the efficiency for rainwater harvesting and crop production, were evaluating to determine the optimal surface configuration of ridge-furrow tillage. Two parameters of ridge heights (HR) and ridge-furrow ratios (RH/W, ratio between HR and furrow width, WF) were defined to determine the configuration of ridge-furrow tillage. The results indicate that relative to conventional field tillage (CT), ridge-furrow tillage increased volumetric soil water content of the plow layer (0-30 cm) and crop yields. And the practice with 25 cm HR (ridge height) and 1/24 RH/W (ratio between HR and furrow width) was the most optimal configuration of ridge-furrow tillage for rainfed agriculture in semiarid region.