Biological Effects of Conservation Tillage on Spring Maize in Loess Plateau

In order to discover the biological effects of conservation tillage on spring maize in Loess Plateau,this research was carried out from 2006 to 2010.Compared with conventional tillage,spring maize plants treated with conservation tillage have more secondary roots,higher plant height,stem diameter,ear leaf area and farmland biomass accumulation in the key stages;the highest values were detected in the growth stages of spring maize with conservation tillage and BJG treatments.Conservation tillage and plant protection measures have big effects on the spring corn ear length,kernels per row,grain numbers per ear and 1000-grain weight.Ear length was significant different between BJG/CC and BO/CK treatments,and grain numbers and 1000-grain mass under conservation tillage reached the significant different level between treatments.Significant increase of the yield was detected under conservation tillage,the average increase of maize yield per plant or area was as high as 25.31%,the yield of BJG treatment increased 36.17% and 41.48% compared to BO and CK treatment,respectively.