Effects of conservation tillage on weed infestation and maize yield under changing climate conditions

Climate change significantly affects agricultural production, altering weed population dynamics and reducing crop yields. Conservation tillage has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate these negative effects by improving soil structure and moisture retention. However, its impact on weed infestation and maize productivity in the Northern Steppe of Ukraine remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different conservation tillage methods on weed infestation levels and maize yield under varying fertilization regimes in the context of climate change. Field experiments were conducted in a long-term crop rotation system, comparing moldboard plowing (23 cm-25 cm), chisel plowing (14 cm-16 cm), and flat-cut loosening (14 cm-16 cm) under three fertilization levels: no fertilization, N30P30K30, and N60P30K30. The results showed that conservation tillage, particularly flat-cut loosening, increased weed infestation by 1.4-1.8 times compared to moldboard plowing. The dominant weed species included Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., and Echinochloa crus-galli L., Nitrogen fertilization significantly influenced maize productivity, with the highest yield (5.62 t/ha) observed under N60P30K30 combined with flat-cut loosening. However, grain quality parameters showed minimal variation across tillage methods. Thus, while conservation tillage increases weed infestation, the application of nitrogen fertilizers can partially compensate for yield losses. The results highlight the importance of integrating tillage and fertilization strategies to balance weed control and maize productivity in changing climate conditions.