Impact of Conservation Tillage on Growth, Symbiosis, Productivity, Quality, Profitability, and Soil Properties in Soybean: A Review

Conventional tillage over the long term in more intensive-cropping systems is not sustainable as it enhances soil degradation, soil moisture loss, soil erosion, and cost of cultivation and disturbs beneficial micro-organisms. Retaining crop residues as mulch has been recognized as a desirable management practice for conserving soil moisture and lowering soil temperature, which ultimately helps in improving seed emergence. However, no-tillage or reduced tillage with crop residue produced better or non-significant differences in the growth and yield attributes and crop yield than that obtained under conventional tillage. However, zero or reduced tillage combined with crop residue improves biological nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase activity, symbiotic parameters and the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Continuous adoption of conservation tillage will have a positive effect on soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties and may also be better for the sustainability of crop production. The novelty of the study is that it examines the integrated effect of conservation tillage and residue retention through mulching on the crop emergence, symbiosis and quality of soybean along with growth, productivity, and profitability of soybean, nutrient uptake by the crop and soil properties together as sustainable agricultural technology.