PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE MINIMUM TILLAGE SYSTEM ON THE PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF CORN GROWN UNDER ARDS CARACAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

The importance of maize (Zea mays L.) in modern agriculture is fundamental and multidimensional, covering economic, food, feed and industrial aspects at a global level. Maize is one of the three staple cereals (along with wheat and rice) and usually ranks first or second position in the world in terms of cultivated area and total recorded production. A modern technology for maize cultivation in the context of climate change focuses on resilience, resource efficiency (especially water and nutrients) and risk reduction by integrating advanced genetics with conservative and digital farming practices. The main strategies aim to combat the negative effects of climate change, such as prolonged drought, heatwave (extreme temperatures during the critical
flowering phase) and extreme weather events (hail, torrential rains and so on). The minimum tillage or no-tillage system has a complex and variable influence on the productive capacity of maize, being dependent on factors such as soil type, climatic conditions (especially precipitation regime), and crop management (e.g., herbicides applied, fertilization management). The preliminary data from this work show the multiple influence of vegetation factors on the emergence, growth and development of corn plants, but also on the expression of productive potential in the argic chernozem conditions at ARDS Caracal. The yields obtained under non-irrigated conditions ranged from 3082 kg/ha in the control variant (classic plowing) to 4487 kg/ha in the variant sown directly in stubble to which the ICDPP biostimulator was applied.