Long-Term Effects of Tillage Systems on Weeds and Maize Yield in the Transylvanian Plain

This study evaluated the long-term effects of soil tillage systems on weed dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the Transylvanian Plain, Romania, over an eight-year period (2018–2025). A long-term field experiment was established under a split-plot design with four tillage systems: conventional tillage (CS), minimum tillage with chisel (MTC), minimum tillage with disk (MTD) and no-tillage (NT). Results indicated that reduced soil disturbance significantly increased total weed density, with a clear shift in community structure toward perennial species under conservation tillage systems. Weed infestation ranged from 8 to 9 plants m−2 in CS to 18–25 plants m−2 in NT. Maize yield showed a progressive decline with decreasing tillage intensity, from 7283 kg ha−1 in CS to 4725 kg ha−1 in NT. ANOVA results confirmed highly significant effects of tillage system (F = 2451.15; p < 0.001) and year (F = 79.62; p < 0.001), as well as a significant tillage × year interaction (F = 2.15; p < 0.05), indicating temporal variability in treatment responses under changing climatic conditions. Under the specific pedoclimatic conditions of the Transylvanian Plain, reduced tillage systems showed lower maize productivity compared with conventional tillage, indicating that the balance between soil conservation and yield performance depends on local environmental and management conditions.