EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF VARIOUS SOIL TILLAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENSURING AGRICULTURAL CROP YIELDS

Abstract

Modern agriculture operates under conditions that require combining high productivity with the rational use of natural resources. One of the key factors determining crop yield and the stability of agricultural production is the method of soil cultivation. The choice of a cultivation system-traditional, minimum, or no-till-directly affects soil structure, moisture retention, aeration, and biological activity. Therefore, assessing the effectiveness of different soil cultivation technologies in ensuring agricultural crop yield is especially relevant. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of different soil cultivation systems on the yield of major agricultural crops and to determine the most rational approach to farming under modern conditions. To achieve this aim, the following tasks were set: to analyze the agrotechnical features of different soil cultivation technologies; to determine their impact on the physicochemical properties of soil; to study the dependence of crop yield on the level of cultivation; and to assess the economic efficiency and environmental consequences of each approach. The study employs methods of comparative analysis, generalization, and a systematic approach. Three main technologies are considered: traditional (plow-based), minimum, and no-till. For each system, its advantages, disadvantages, and effects on agroecosystem health are presented. The traditional technology involves intensive mechanical soil loosening with plow inversion, which helps control weeds and accelerates soil warming in spring. However, excessive mechanical intervention leads to soil structure degradation, reduced humus content, accelerated erosion processes, and high energy costs. Minimum tillage involves reducing the number of soil operations and the depth of loosening. This helps preserve soil structure, save fuel and labor. Provided that technological requirements are met, crop yields remain stable, and in arid regions even increase due to better moisture retention. The no-till system involves complete refusal of mechanical soil loosening. Seeds are sown directly into crop residues, maximizing moisture retention, reducing erosion, promoting organic matter accumulation, and enhancing soil biological activity. At the same time, no-till requires careful crop rotation planning, specialized machinery, and effective weed control, which involves certain financial costs at the initial implementation stage. Analysis results show that long-term application of minimum and no-till systems tends to improve soil physical properties, increase humus content, and boost microbiological activity. Crop agricultural yields in these systems, although initially slightly lower, stabilize over time and may even exceed traditional farming yields due to improved ecological balance of the soil environment. Thus, the optimal strategy is a combination of elements from different systems, considering specific production conditions. Rational use of soil cultivation technologies contributes to increased crop yields, resource savings, soil fertility preservation, and sustainable development of the agricultural sector.