Growth, yield, and yield components of winter wheat and the effects of tillage intensity, preceding crops, and N fertilisation

Summary

This six-year field trial in Swiss midland soils examined how conservation tillage adoption affects winter wheat performance in cool, humid European climates. No-tillage (NT) reduced grain yield by 3% relative to conventional and minimum tillage, primarily through reduced ear density and lower kernel weight, despite similar shoot biomass at maturity. The yield penalty of NT was independent of both preceding crop (oilseed rape vs. maize) and nitrogen fertilisation level, indicating N availability was not limiting; wheat following oilseed rape did, however, yield significantly better than wheat after maize regardless of tillage system.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in Switzerland under temperate European conditions and soil types (light to medium texture) broadly representative of United Kingdom midland and southern farming regions. The findings are directly applicable to UK policy and practice considerations around conservation tillage adoption, particularly regarding concerns that reduced tillage in cool, wet climates may penalise yield; the results confirm a modest but measurable yield cost in these conditions, which remains relevant to UK farmers evaluating conservation agriculture strategies.

Key measures

Grain yield (kg/ha), shoot biomass (t/ha), ears per area, thousand-kernel weight (g), soil mineral N content (kg/ha)

Outcomes reported

The study measured winter wheat grain yield, shoot biomass, ears per area, and thousand-kernel weight under three tillage intensities (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) combined with two preceding crops and two nitrogen fertilisation levels. It assessed how tillage system, crop rotation, and N supply interact to influence wheat productivity in cool, humid European conditions.

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