Long-Term Effect of Tillage Systems on the Planosol Physical Properties, CO2 Emissions and Spring Barley Productivity

1. Introduction

Soil preparation is one of the most important tasks in agriculture, as it is essential for plant growth and soil health. For plants to grow well, you need to ensure that the soil has the right amount of air, water, and nutrients. A prerequisite for this operation is the right soil structure, which can be affected by different tillage techniques. Soil properties directly impact the root system and growth of plants. The traditional tillage system, mainly involving ploughing and supplementary tillage, is widespread in Central Europe. However, for ecological and economic reasons, increasing attention is being paid to alternative tillage systems that aim to improve soil health and energy efficiency.

A study by Feizos et al. [1] argues that CO₂ emissions are determined by the depth and intensity with which the soil is mechanically tilled. The authors believe that CO₂ emissions are directly increased by intensive tillage. Other researchers point out that intensive tillage increases CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere [2]. Increasing concentrations of CO₂ in the air, together with other gases (CH₄ and N₂O), accelerate climate change. To reduce CO₂ emissions from the soil, the use of no-till farming systems should be increased. The data obtained by scientists in Lithuania and many other countries around the world on reduced tillage are often different and contradictory. The impact and benefits of tillage are often related to the quality of soil preparation, previous agrotechnical measures such as pesticide use, fertiliser intensity, and plant species grown [3]. Reduced tillage reduces soil erosion, and improves soil structure, and durability, and other physical properties [3,4,5]. Avižienytė et al. [6] argue that minimum tillage before sowing intensifies the activity of microorganisms, causes less damage to the soil structure, and reduces the mixing of crop residues in the top layer of the soil. Tillage with implements determines the soil‘s physical properties, which are important for nutrient supply to the plant, and also influence the soil‘s air and moisture regime. Soil temperature and soil moisture are very closely linked. Wet soils can store more heat. It needs more heat to evaporate the water in the soil [7]. The soil moisture regime depends on its physical properties, granulometric composition, temperature, precipitation, etc. [8]. Soil moisture is also thought to be affected by tillage. Soil microorganisms help determine the stability of the ecosystem, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility. Factors such as the environment, tillage, and crop residues determine the biological activity of the soil. Different tillage techniques lead to different levels of organic residue incorporation and their incorporation affects the decomposition of organic matter [9]. The activity of microorganisms is essential for soil fertility and soil fertilisation. Microorganisms are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, leading to an increase in minerals and biologically active substances needed by plants [10]. To provide good conditions for soil microorganisms and earthworms, it is important to choose the right tillage system [11,12,13]. Studies have shown that in fields with direct sowing, the growth and activity of microorganism populations in the top layer of the soil studied was higher due to the higher organic matter and moisture content compared to deep ploughing fields [14]. It was also found that in fields where direct sowing into uncultivated soil was applied, biodiversity and activity increased, and a higher amount of organic matter was accumulated, which is necessary for the growth of crop plants and their fertility, as well as for the improvement of the yield quality indicators [9,15,16]. A study by Toth et al. [17] showed that the organic carbon content in the 0–20 cm soil layer was significantly increased under no-tillage (46 mg C ha^-1) compared to conventional tillage (26 mg C ha^-1). The authors point out that direct sowing and mulching improve the durability of the soil structure and the water-holding capacity.

Photosynthesising living organisms take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it during photosynthesis when the carbon is converted into carbohydrates, or otherwise energy reserves [18]. Organic carbon makes up about 58% of the organic matter in soil [19]. Krauss et al. [20] report that reduced tillage compared to deep ploughing increased SOC stocks in the surface layer by 20.8% and total SOC stocks by 1.7%, but biomass production was also reduced by 8% due to reduced tillage.

The most commonly studied enzymes are urease and sucrase, belonging to the class of hydrolases. The enzyme activity depends on indicators such as the intensity of beetle infestation, the abundance of microorganisms, the levels of mobile phosphorus, potassium, and humus, the acidity (pH) of the soil, and the plant yield [21]. Different tillage practices also change soil properties, which are closely linked to enzyme activity. Reduced tillage systems leave more crop residues such as straw. This intensifies the activity of enzymes in the soil and increases soil fertility [22,23]. The activity of soil enzymes affects the mineralisation of crop residues, the increase in organic matter, soil structure, and nutrient cycling [24,25].

Soil biological indicators are crucial for soil quality. This is becoming increasingly important in today‘s farming, which is moving towards sustainability, cost reduction, and soil conservation [26]. Soil fauna helps plants obtain nutrients, improve soil structure, and regulate soil water levels [27]. The soil‘s biological properties are very sensitive and responsive to change [28]. Soil fauna includes invertebrates and microorganisms. It is essential for the development of plants that the soil provides favourable conditions for the growth of plant roots and the uptake of water, thus allowing yields to increase. Proper tillage has a positive effect on aeration, density, and water holding capacity, and therefore on root biomass and microorganism content. CO₂ emissions are directly linked to the biological activity of microorganisms and root respiration. These processes are mainly influenced by soil structure, temperature, and moisture [29].

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Experimental Site

The long-term stationary field experiment was performed at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (former Aleksandras Stulginskis University) (54°52′ N, 23°49′ E). It was initiated in 1988 and modified in 2001 when a direct sowing treatment was added. The research data, presented in this article, is from 2022–2023. The soil in the experimental field was silty loam (45.6% sand, 41.7% silt, 12.7% clay) Planosol (WRB 2014). The depth of the arable layer was 25–27 cm. The pH_KCL of the soil surface was 6.4–7.7, the amount of available phosphorus varied from 194 to 384 mg kg^-1, and potassium from 85 to 206 mg kg^-1. The variation and location of elements depended on long-term soil tillage practices

2.2. Experiment Design and Agricultural Practices

The experimental design (Table 1) consisted of four randomised main plots with four replications: spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), winter rape (Brassica napus L.), and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) with plant residues and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with plant residues and cover crops. Tillage treatments were applied to five subplots: conventional ploughing (CP) at a depth of 23–25 cm (control treatment), shallow ploughing (SP) at a depth of 12–15 cm, deep cultivation (DC, chiselling) at a depth of 23–25 cm, shallow cultivation (SC, chiselling) at a depth of 12–15 cm, and no-tillage (NT) (Table 1). There were 16 main plots of 126 m² (14×9 m) and a protection zone of 1 m. In this study, soil samples were used only from a field of spring barley. A randomised design of the plot’s distribution was used. The buffer strip was 1 m wide between the experimental plots and 9 m between the blocks. The spring barley crop consisted of 20 subplots, each of 70 m² (10×7 m). The main tillage operation for the treatments was performed during September-October.

Under NT treatment, there was no soil cultivation in spring, and the crops were directly planted. Moreover, weeds were chemically controlled with the herbicide Glyphogan 360 SL. The main cultivations were performed in September–October (2022 and 2023). For CP, SP ploughing was used as a plough Gamega PP-3-43 (Gamega Ltd., Lithuania). For DC, and SC tillage, a chisel cultivator KRG-3.6 (Laumetris Ltd., Lithuania) was used. The pre-sowing tillage operation was performed with a complex cultivator KLG-3.6 (Laumetris Ltd., Lithuania) in April–May. Spring barley was sown at a row spacing of 12.5 cm, at a depth of 3 cm and at a rate of 180 kg ha^–1 with a drill Väderstad Rapid 300C Super XL (Väderstad AB, Sweden) in April–May. The application of NPK (16:16:16) and ammonium nitrate (N 68) fertilisers was 300 kg ha^–1 and 200 kg ha^–1, respectively. There was the same rate for all plots. The crops were sprayed using insecticide Karate Zeon 5 CS, herbicide Elegant 2FD and fungicide Mirador 250 SC. Insecticides and herbicides were applied twice per season.

Soil CO₂ emissions were measured using an Infra-Red Gas Analyzer to measure the soil CO₂ efflux (μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). The portable, automated soil gas flux system LI-8100A with an 8100-103 chamber and the analyser LI-8100A (LI-COR Inc.) was used. In spring, 20 cm-diameter rings were installed in the soil in each plot, and there were no growing plants. Two days before the measurements, all grown plants were removed. Three measurements were made in each plot. CO₂ efflux was determined three times per growing season, at the same time of the day (from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and at designated locations in the field. Soil moisture was measured with the sensor LI-8100-204 (LI-COR Inc.), and soil temperature with the sensor LI-8100-203 (LI-COR Inc.), included in the chamber control of the LI-8100A automated soil gas flux system (LI-COR Inc.).

Soil CO₂ concentration (%) at the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers was determined using the device Screenalyt honold umweltmesstechnik. Measurements were carried out in each accounting field during plant vegetation from 8 to 11 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m.

Assessment of Crop Density

The crop density (the number of productive stems) is determined at maturity, in 50x50 cm frames, at 4 points in the field, and expressed in pcs. m². The oilseed rape density is determined at post-harvest, in 50x50 cm frames, at four locations in the field, and expressed in pcs. m².

Yield. Cereal and oilseed rape are harvested in the experimental fields with a combine harvester, weighed, and expressed as the weight of grains of 14% moisture content for cereal and 8.5% moisture content for oilseed rape with 100% purity. To determine the purity, a pooled sample of about 2 kg of grain or 0.5 kg of seed is made from all replicates of each variant. The cereal is poured into cloth bags. 2 samples from each variant of the pooled sample are counterbalanced. The impurities are removed, and the clean grains or seeds are weighed.

Statistical Analysis

The research data were processed by a two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the F test of the computer software package SPSS [31]. The significance of differences between the means of the variants was assessed using the LSD test at 95.99 and 99.9% confidence levels. Microbial research data that did not comply with the law of normal distribution were transformed using the mathematical function y=lg10(x+1) before the statistical analysis [32]. Interrelationships between characteristics were evaluated by the method of correlation analysis by calculating the correlation coefficient r and its reliability at 95 and 99% probability levels and calculating regression equations with the computer program STAT from the program package SELECTION [32].

In case of a significant difference between a given variant and the control, its confidence level is denoted as follows:

* for P ≤ 0.050 > 0.010 (the differences are significant at the 95% confidence level);

** for P ≤ 0.010 > 0.001 (differences are significant at the 99% confidence level);

*** for P ≤ 0.001 (differences are significant at the 99.99% confidence level).

P > 0.050 – no significant differences (differences significant at less than 95% confidence level).

During the statistical analysis of research data, a significant interaction between years was found in many cases, therefore research data for each year are presented separately.

2.3. Meteorological Conditions

The climate of the experimental site is identified as boreal (subarctic). During the last 100 years, the average annual temperature increased from 6.3 to 6.7 °C, and the precipitation rate – was from 590 to 625 mm. The length of vegetation season with active temperatures (SAT, ≥ 10 °C) is approximately 6 months. The SAT in 1990 was 2132 °C, in 1995 – 2371 °C, and 2018 – 2965 °C. The average air temperatures across 24 hours and the precipitation rates are presented in Table 2 and Table 3.

The start of the 2022 vegetative season was colder than normal and precipitation increased. July and August were warmer and precipitation was similar to the long-term average. In May 2023, temperatures were cooler and precipitation was very low. In June and August, temperatures and precipitation were similar to the long-term average. However, in July, precipitation was very low and temperatures were lower.

Looking at 2022 and 2023, it can be seen that the temperatures at the beginning of the crop vegetative season were cooler and those at the end of the vegetative season were warmer. In 2022, precipitation was higher in May, June and July, but the precipitation dropped drastically in April. In 2023, the opposite trend was observed.

A rise in air temperatures is a positive trend for the realisation of cereal productivity; however, higher temperatures, due to increased precipitation, destroy soil aggregates, increase soil compaction and reduce biological activity [33].

3. Results

3.1. The Effect of Tillage Intensity on Soil Physical Properties

Analysis of the results showed that reduced tillage significantly affected soil moisture (Table 4).

The first measurement (06/06/2022, BBCH39) showed that the field with shallow ploughing (SP) and shallow cultivation (SC) had a significantly higher soil moisture content of 2.46 to 2.61 percentage points compared to deep ploughing (DP).

In the third measurement (25/7/2022, BBCH71), shallow cultivation (SC) fields showed a significantly lower moisture content of 3.19 percentage points compared to conventional tillage (DP) fields.

A linear very strong negative and statistically significant correlation (r = -0.91, y = 30.58 – 0.77x, P < 0.05) was found between soil moisture at BBCH47 and spring barley yield.

When the experiment was repeated in 2023 and measurements were taken, we received opposite results (Table 4).

The measurements in the fields of reduced tillage showed higher soil moisture, but not significantly. Further measurements in the spring barley crop during the vegetative season showed that the different tillage practices did not significantly affect soil moisture. The last measurement (04/08/2023, BBCH 89) before the spring barley harvest did not show any soil moisture content.

A linear positive very strong and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.92, y = 0.75 + 1.01x, P < 0.01) was found between soil moisture content on 28/06/2023 and soil temperature on 28/06/2023. A linear positive correlation (r = 0.98, y = 2.60 + 17.69x, P < 0.01) was found between the soil moisture content on 28/06/2023 and the soil CO₂ emission (28/06/2023).

At the time of the measurement on 06/06/2022, when the plants had reached growth stage 37, the results showed that in all fields with reduced tillage, soil temperatures were significantly lower compared to the fields of deep ploughing (DP) (Table 5). Soil temperature measurements on 17 and 28 June and on 12 August in the reduced tillage fields did not show a significant difference in soil temperature compared to the deep ploughing fields (DP).

On 25/07/2022 (BBCH 71), the results showed that the fields with deep cultivation (DC), shallow cultivation (SC) and no-tillage (NT) showed a significant decrease of 5.4 to 10.1% in soil temperature compared to deep ploughing (DP).

Soil temperature measurements for 2023, during the spring barley vegetation, showed that although six measurements were made, no significant differences were found (Table 6).

A linear positive correlation was found between soil temperature (28/06/2023) and soil CO₂ emissions (28/06/2023), with a very strong and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.97, y =-0.87 + 17.06x, P < 0.01).

In the year under study, the moisture content at the time of the first measurement was higher in the reduced tillage field compared to the control field (DP). During the period under study, the temperature was lower in all reduced tillage fields at the time of the first measurement, compared to deep ploughing fields (DP). In the third measurement, deep cultivation (DC) fields showed lower moisture content compared to deep ploughing (DP). Shallow ploughing (SP) fields showed higher temperatures in the second and third measurements compared to the control (DP).

3.2. The Effect of Tillage Intensity on Soil Biological Properties

In 2022, three measurements of CO₂ emissions were made during the spring barley vegetative season (Figure 1). The results of the first measurement (06/06/2022) showed that the CO₂ emissions from the soil were significantly lower by a factor of 1.59 to 2.98 in the fields of shallow ploughing (SP), shallow cultivation (SP) and no-tillage (NT) compared to deep ploughing (DP).

Other measurements showed that different tillage practices did not significantly affect the CO₂ emissions from the soil.

The experimental studies were continued in 2023, but the measurements were made four times (Figure 2).

A review of the results shows no significant differences.

In the year studied, the CO₂ emissions obtained in the shallow ploughing (SP) fields were higher compared to the control fields. In most of the reduced tillage fields, lower emissions were obtained in the third (2022) and second (2023) measurements.

A linear positive very strong and statistically significant correlation (r = 0.92, y =-113.04 + 0.30x, P < 0.05) was found between the soil CO₂ emissions and the grain yield of spring barley.

Three measurements of CO₂ concentration in the spring barley crop were carried out between 2022 and 2023 in different soil layers (Table 6).

In 2022, no significant differences were found in the topsoil (0–10 cm) in the fields with reduced tillage systems tested.

In 2023, in deep cultivation (DC) and no-tillage (NT) fields, the first measurement (23/05/2023) showed significantly lower CO₂ concentrations in the top (0–10 cm) layer of the soil by 0.71 and 0.67 percentage points, respectively, compared to deep ploughing (DP). In contrast, shallow ploughing (SP) and shallow cultivation (SC) plots showed significantly lower CO₂ concentrations of 0.42 and 0.40 percentage points compared to conventional tillage (DP). In the second measurement (26/06/2023), which was carried out one month later, the shallow cultivation (SC) fields showed a significant decrease of 0.02 percentage points in CO₂ concentration compared to deep ploughing (DP). The other reduced tillage treatments showed a non-significant decrease in CO₂ concentration in the soil layer studied compared to deep ploughing (DP) fields. In the third measurement (04/08/2023) no CO₂ concentration was detected due to drought.

In 2022, in the deeper (10–20 cm) soil layer, only the no-tillage (NT) plots showed a lower CO₂ concentration of between 0.035 and 0.210 percentage points for the whole period studied, compared to the deep ploughing (DP) plots (Figure 5). In the lower (10–20 cm) soil layer, similar trends were found as in the upper (0–10 cm) soil layer studied in the third measurement (12/08/2022), with the shallow ploughing (SP) fields showing the highest CO₂ concentrations compared to the deep ploughing (DP) fields.

Measurements in the deeper (10–20 cm) soil layer were also made in 2023. The first measurement in the reduced tillage fields showed lower CO₂ concentrations of between 0.16 and 0.052 percentage points compared to the deep ploughing (DP) fields. In the second measurement (28/06/2023), also in the reduced tillage fields, the CO₂ concentration was 0.007 to 0.014 percentage points lower compared to deep ploughing fields (DP). In contrast, the third measurement (04/08/2023) showed significantly lower CO₂ concentrations of 0.158, 0.150, 0.140 and 0.148 percentage points in fields with shallow ploughing (SP), deep cultivation (DC), shallow cultivation (SC) and no-tillage (NT) compared to deep ploughing (DP).

A linear negative very strong and statistically significant correlation (r = -0.98, y = 2861.83 + 267.84x, P < 0.01) was found between soil CO₂ (10–20) concentration and spring barley productivity.

In the year under study, the lower arable layer received lower CO₂ levels in the first measurement. No-tillage (NT) fields showed lower amounts in all measurements. In the topsoil, shallow ploughing (SP) and shallow cultivation (SC) fields showed lower CO₂ yields.

3.3. The Effect of Tillage Intensity on Spring Barley Productivity Indicators

The crop density is calculated for the years 2022–2023 (Figure 3).

In 2022, shallow cultivation (SC) plots showed a predominant increase in crop density of between 7.5 and 12.4% plants m^-2 compared to deep ploughing (DP). In no-tillage (NT) fields, less than 1% (0.49%) of spring barley pcs. m^-2 were found compared to deep ploughing (DP). In 2023, similar results were obtained. Deep ploughing (DP) and shallow cultivation (SC) plots showed non-significantly lower yields of 9.8 and 13.8%, respectively, compared to deep ploughing (DP). Shallow ploughing (SP) had a significantly lower spring barley density (6.9%) compared to deep ploughing (DP). No-tillage (NT) plots showed a non-significant increase (4.8%) in spring barley density compared to deep ploughing (DP) plots.

In 2022, significantly lower yields were found in deep cultivation (DC) and no-tillage (NT) fields, 31.4 and 26.5% respectively (Figure 4). The highest yield of 7.24 t ha^-1 of spring barley grain was obtained in deep ploughing (DP) fields. In the fields with reduced tillage technology, spring barley grain yields were between 4.7 and 31.4% lower compared to the yields obtained in the control (DP).

In 2023 the results were different. The highest grain yield of spring barley was found in the fields of shallow ploughing (SP), where it was 6.67 t ha^-1. Both deep cultivation (DC) and shallow cultivation (SC) plots showed 2.2 and 3.9% lower grain yields, respectively, compared to the control plots (DP). Only the no-tillage (NT) plots showed a 7.9% significantly lower grain yield of spring barley compared to the deep ploughing (DP) plots.

4. Discussion

The water that naturally accumulates in soil pores, cracks and cavities is soil moisture [34]. Soil moisture depends on several factors such as physical properties, soil grain size, soil temperature and others [8]. The soil moisture regime is also thought to be influenced by the method of tillage. Soil temperature and soil moisture are closely linked. Wet soils can store more heat. Such soils require more heat to warm up to evaporate the water in the soil [7]. Deep ploughing promotes evaporation of moisture from the soil. Moisture is particularly important in spring and evaporation should be avoided. Shallow ploughing, on the other hand, inhibits this process. Loose topsoil reduces heat radiation. Shallowly incorporated plant residues benefit the soil, as shallowly incorporated plant residues decompose more quickly, thus improving the structure of the topsoil. Adequate heat and humidity are essential for quality shallow cultivation [35]. The heat exchange process in the soil is influenced by meteorological conditions, the thermal conductivity of the soil, the water content of the soil and other properties [36]. The most important factors influencing the thermal process in soil are tillage and the coverage of the soil surface by vegetation or its remains.

Researchers Buragienė [36], Steponavičienė et al. [5], Sinkevičius [37], and Andruškaitė [38] in their articles have investigated and discussed the scientific results, which we have also analysed.

In a spring barley crop, Buragienė [36], Andriuškaitė [38] and Sinkevičius [37] carried out measurements of CO₂ emissions. The research aimed to compare traditional tillage –deep ploughing – with soil conservation tillage and to compare the benefits and harms of the increasingly popular no-till methods.

Sinkevičius [37] made three measurements of CO₂ emissions from the soil during the crop vegetative season. The first measurement (12/05/2021) showed that the reduced tillage fields had a higher CO₂ release from the soil compared to the control fields. The results of Dencso et al. [39] showed that the no-tillage soil had 2.9 times higher CO₂ emissions compared to the shallow-tilled soil. According to the authors, grassy no-till soils emit more CO₂ due to root respiration rather than soil microbial activity. The study also highlighted the importance of GHG emission measurement timing, as a few days of heavier precipitation can significantly reduce GHG emissions. Buragienė et al. [4] also carried out measurements in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The researcher noted that in the years studied, the fields under reduced tillage had higher CO₂ emissions after the test tillage compared to the results obtained when measurements were taken before reduced tillage. She also pointed out that in the study years, all the reduced tillage fields showed lower CO₂ emissions than the control. Buragienė [36] found a negative correlation between soil temperature and CO₂ emissions before autumn tillage (r=-0.98). Liu et al. [40] suggested that GHG emissions can also depend strongly on soil temperature so that CO₂ emissions from soil decrease at higher temperatures. Steponavičienė et al. [41] found that soil temperature and moisture content are more influenced by meteorological conditions than by different tillage practices. Andruškaitė [38] also carried out CO₂ measurements. The study reports that the measurements were carried out every two weeks in May, June and July. The results obtained in May 2018 showed that the fields of shallow ploughing had higher CO₂ emissions from the soil compared to the control fields. The June results showed that the shallow ploughing and shallow cultivation fields had higher CO₂ emissions, while the deep ploughing and direct sowing fields had lower CO₂ emissions. The measurements continued and in June 2019, the results showed that shallow ploughing and direct sowing fields had lower CO₂ emissions, while in July, deep ploughing and shallow cultivation fields had higher CO₂ emissions. The results of Du et al. [42] showed that CO₂ emissions are not influenced by the tillage method but by soil moisture content. Furthermore, their study showed that neither crop productivity nor soil microbial biomass differed significantly between tillage practices (p > 0.05). Bogužas et al. [35] showed that direct sowing resulted in higher CO₂ emissions compared to the control. In our field experiment in 2022, a total of three measurements were made. The first (06/06/2022) and the third (25/07/2022) measurements gave opposite results. That is, in all reduced tillage fields CO₂ emissions were found to be lower compared to deep ploughing. Meanwhile, in 2023, the first measurement (30/05/2023) showed similar results to those of Sinkevičius [37]. Uncultivated fields showed higher CO₂ emissions compared to the control. Measurements carried out by the researcher on 17/07/2021 and 03/08/2021 showed that reduced tillage fields with and without cover crops had lower CO₂ emissions compared to deep ploughing fields. Meanwhile, our second measurement on 28/06/2022 showed higher CO₂ emissions in the reduced tillage fields compared to the control fields. In 2023, the results of the first (30/05/2023) and second (12/06/2023) measurements showed that shallow ploughing, deep cultivation and direct sowing fields had lower CO₂ emissions compared to deep ploughing fields. In contrast, shallow cultivation fields showed higher results compared to the control. The third measurement (28/06/2023) showed that shallow ploughing fields had lower CO₂ concentrations compared to the control fields. The remaining reduced tillage fields showed higher CO₂ concentrations compared to the deep ploughing fields. Comparing the different studies and the data obtained, we can say that the results obtained in 2021 and 2023 were similar. The vegetative season is also very important for the overall soil respiration values, as CO₂ emissions in the soil can decrease significantly after harvest [43]. According to these researchers, soil respiration was significantly higher under no-tillage compared to arable farming, irrespective of crop type or meteorological conditions.

Lu et al. [44] argue that the 6 years of conventional tillage and no-till practices, conducted between the growth of wheat and corn, resulted in significant differences in the soil properties not only in their mean values but also in their temporal variability. The NT treatment resulted in lower soil CO₂ emissions when compared to the conventional tillage treatment. This seemed to be related to the differences observed in certain physical, chemical, and biological soil properties, especially the temperature and C stock. A positive linear correlation between the CO₂ emissions and soil organic carbon stock indicated that the soil C losses could be due to the decomposition of soil organic carbon.

Bogužas et al. [45] present yield results for different tillage treatments. In 2015, the spring barley crop showed the highest yields in direct sowing fields. In our field experiment, yield comparisons for spring barley grain were also established. In 2023, we found that the direct sowing fields produced the lowest yields. In 2022−2023, the highest yields were obtained in shallow ploughing fields. Similar results have been obtained by Niether et al. [46], where higher yields were obtained with deep and shallow ploughing compared to direct sowing in no-tillage. While reduced tillage is an important practice to limit disturbance to soil structure and biota, deep ploughing is still commonly used in conventional farming as the most effective way to control weeds and aerate heavy soils.

So, although we are comparing the work of only a few researchers who carried out similar studies in different years, we can see that the results obtained in each year sometimes differ. There are many different reasons for this, but one of the main ones is the different meteorological conditions in each of the years studied.

5. Conclusions

1. In 2022, shallow ploughing fields had 11% higher moisture and shallow cultivation (SC) – 5% higher soil temperature. In 2023, shallow cultivation (SC) fields showed 14% higher soil moisture and shallow ploughing (SP) fields showed higher soil temperature (1.2%) compared to deep ploughing (DP) fields. At the end of the 2023 vegetative season, a drought was recorded.

2. In 2022, the shallowly ploughing fields had lower CO₂ concentrations throughout the vegetative season. In most cases, higher CO₂ levels were found in deep cultivation (DC) fields. In 2023, CO₂ levels were lower in all reduced tillage fields. The results obtained for CO₂ release from the soil were highly variable.

3. In 2022, no-tillage (NT) fields showed a lower spring barley crop density than deep ploughing (DP) fields. The other reduced tillage fields showed higher spring barley crop densities. In 2022, significantly lower grain yields of spring barley were found in deep cultivation (DC) (31.4%) and no-tillage (NT) (26.5%) fields. In 2023, higher densities of spring barley were prevalent in no-tillage (NT) fields, while other reduced tillage systems resulted in lower densities. Yields were found to be 7.9% lower in the no-tillage (NT) fields and higher in the other reduced tillage fields for spring barley grain.