Effect of tillage methods and biological preparations on the structural state of soil

Mykola Shevchenko, Zinaida Dehtiarova
Received: 06.04.2025 Revised: 05.09.2025 Accepted: 24.09.2025
Retrieved from Vol. 28, No. 10, 2025 Pages: 44-53
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different primary tillage technologies and the application of biopreparations on the structural condition of chernozem soils in sunflower cultivation. Understanding these effects is essential for optimising soil management practices and enhancing crop productivity. To achieve this goal, the study employed a combination of field, laboratory, and statistical methods. Field methods included the establishment of a stationary experiment using a randomised block design. Laboratory analyses involved the determination of soil particle-size fractions using the dry sieving method. Statistical analysis, specifically analysis of variance, was applied to assess the significance of differences among treatments. The results demonstrated that conventional plowing produced the highest content of large aggregates (>10 mm) in the 0-30 cm soil layer (35.1%). Nevertheless, this method was associated with a relatively low proportion of agronomically valuable 5-3  mm fractions, thereby reducing structural stability against erosive processes. In contrast, chisel subsoiling and deep non-inversion tillage reduced the proportion of large clods while increasing the proportion of optimally sized aggregates by 3.6-8.3% compared to the control. These improvements contributed to a better soil water-air regime and created favorable conditions for sunflower root development. The application of microbial biopreparations (Azotobacter, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma, and a microbial consortium) further improved soil structure by decreasing the proportion of oversised clods and enhancing the share of agronomically valuable fractions 0.25-10 mm. The most pronounced effect was recorded during the consortium treatment, which contributed to the formation of a more homogeneous and stable lumpy-grained structure, where the number of agronomically valuable aggregates was 81.5%. The practical significance of this study lies in identifying effective tillage practices and the use of biopreparations to improve the structural condition of typical chernozem under sunflower cultivation. The obtained results can be applied in production systems to preserve soil fertility, enhance water use efficiency, and ensure the ecological stability of agroecosystems

Keywords

tillage systems; soil structural-aggregate composition; chernozem; agrophysical propertie; sunflower; biologisation of agriculture

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Shevchenko, M., & Dehtiarova, Z. (2025). Effect of tillage methods and biological preparations on the structural state of soil. Scientific Horizons, 28(10), 44-53. https://doi.org/10.48077/scihor10.2025.44