The role of corn in forming the productivity of short crop rotation under various soil tillage systems in conditions of climate changes

Aim. To systematize and analyze analytical information regarding the dynamics of the structure of sown areas and determine the impact of different soil tillage systems on the productivity of agrocenoses, with a special focus on the role of grain maize under climate change conditions and its contribution to the overall productivity of short crop rotations. Methods. Generalization, analysis and synthesis, field, laboratory, calculation-comparative, and mathematical-statistical methods were applied. Results. It was established that climate change, particularly the decrease in precipitation and the increase in temperature, leads to a significant reduction in crop productivity even in zones with sufficient moisture. It was determined that adaptive tillage systems, in particular differentiated and no-till technology, contribute to improving plant water supply and increasing the stability of the yield level of field crops. The share of maize in in the crop rotation increased up to 38% in years with the highest productivity. It was found that crop rotations that include leguminous crops (pea, soybeans) provide a higher level of productivity, with a total grain unit yield of up to 8.07 t/ha. The highest corn yield (>8.5 t/ha) was obtained under conditions of a favorable hydrothermal regime (hydrothermal coefficient 1.23–1.76) and the use of differentiated cultivation. Conclusions. The results of the research indicate that maize is a dominant crop in shaping the productivity of short-rotation grain crop rotations, and its yield largely depends on weather conditions and the soil tillage system. Differentiated and no-till systems contribute to more efficient water use and stabilize crop yields within the crop rotation. Leguminous crops, particularly soybean and pea, improve the structure of the crop rotation and the overall nutrient balance. The highest productivity indicators were achieved by combining differentiated tillage, an optimal maize share (up to 38%), and sufficient precipitation during the growing season.