Effects of Vertical Tillage Systems on Soil Quality and Spring Barley Productivity Across Field Zones

Sustainable soil management increasingly relies on reduced-disturbance tillage systems. However, minimum tillage and direct seeding often create uneven soil conditions, including nutrient stratification, surface compaction, and restricted root development, particularly in headlands where machinery traffic is concentrated. Vertical tillage has emerged as a promising approach to alleviate these constraints without compromising the advantages of conservation agriculture.

This study assessed how four tillage strategies—minimum tillage (MT), vertical tillage (VT), vertical tillage with seeding (VTS), and no-tillage (NT)—affect soil physical and chemical properties and spring barley yield across two contrasting field zones (mid-field and headlands). VTS and NT exhibited the highest aeration porosity in mid-field areas, while only VTS consistently reduced compaction and improved porosity in headlands. Chemical analyses showed that VTS maintained an optimal soil reaction, balanced phosphorus and potassium distribution, and stable organic matter levels. NT promoted higher nutrient concentrations near the surface, whereas MT and VT were more affected by compaction and uneven nutrient distribution.

Yield evaluations demonstrated that VTS created the most favorable conditions for nutrient mobility and plant development, resulting in both the highest productivity in the field center and the most uniform yield distribution. NT performed relatively well in compacted edges, while MT and VT produced lower and more variable yields.

Overall, vertical tillage combined with seeding proved to be the most effective compromise between soil conservation and agronomic performance, enhancing soil health indicators and promoting yield stability under temperate climate conditions, with particularly strong benefits in heavily trafficked headland areas.