No-tillage and subsoiling increased maize yields and soil water storage under varied rainfall distribution: A 9-year site-specific study in a semi-arid environment

The application of conservation tillage with less soil disturbance appears to serve as an effective strategy to conserve water for crops. A site-specific field study was carried out in accordance with rainfall conditions to evaluate the influence of tillage methods on soil water regime, crop yield and water use efficiency for a semiarid region of the Loess Plateau in China. Three tillage methods including no-tillage, subsoiling, and plow tillage...