Abstract. In the field experiment with onion cultivation three methods of pre-sowing soil tillage: no-tillage, spring disking, pre-winter with spring disking and two plant mulches: spring rye and spring vetch were considered. The best soil moisture was noticed on the objects with mulching and zero-tillage.

The effect of cover crop mulches and reduced soil tillage
in onion cultivation on some features of soil

Summary

The field experiment was carried out in years 2003-2006 in ES Felin on grey-brown podzolic soil. Three methods of pre-sowing soil tillage: no-tillage, spring disking, pre-winter with spring disking and two plant mulches: spring rye (Secale cereale) and spring vetch (Vicia sativa) were investigated. Cover crop mulches from spring rye and vetch had favourable effect on the soil moisture and water reserve in top soil on the spring and in full of vegetation of onion. From compared three methods of reduction of pre-sowing soil tillage with cover crop mulches, the best soil moisture was noticed on the objects with mulching and zero-tillage. Cover crop mulches had no significant effect on soil density and total soil porosity.