Effects of Long-Term Straw Return and Tillage Practices on Soil Physicochemical Traits and Yield of Waxy Maize

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Long-term straw return combined with appropriate tillage practices plays a crucial role in improving soil health and sustaining crop productivity in waxy maize cultivation. Continuous incorporation of crop residues enhances soil organic matter, boosts nutrient availability, and improves soil structure by increasing aggregation and porosity. These changes support better moisture retention and root development, ultimately strengthening plant growth. Conservation tillage systems—such as reduced or no-tillage—further complement straw return by minimizing soil disturbance, reducing erosion, and promoting beneficial microbial activity. Over time, these integrated practices lead to improved soil physicochemical attributes including pH stability, nutrient cycling efficiency, and enhanced cation exchange capacity. As a result, waxy maize grown under long-term straw return and optimized tillage management often demonstrates increased yield potential, greater resilience to environmental stress, and improved overall sustainability of the production system. This approach supports both ecological restoration and long-term agricultural productivity, making it a key strategy for modern sustainable farming.

#WaxyMaize #StrawReturn #TillagePractices #SoilHealth #SoilFertility #SoilProperties #PhysicochemicalTraits #SustainableAgriculture #CropResidueManagement #ConservationTillage #NoTillFarming #ReducedTillage #SoilOrganicMatter #SoilStructure #NutrientCycling #SoilMoisture #MaizeYield #Agronomy #ClimateSmartAgriculture #SoilEcosystem #SoilManagement #SustainableFarming #Agroecosystems #SoilScience #CropProductivity #SoilRestoration #ResilientFarming #EnvironmentalSustainability #SoilBiology #MaizeProduction




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