Tillage and integrated cover crop management effects on soil microclimate, root traits, and winter wheat productivity

This study evaluated the effects of tillage systems (conventional ploughing, shallow harrowing, and no-tillage) and agricultural technologies (traditional and integrated) on winter wheat root traits, grain yield, soil microclimate, and soil CO 2 efflux over three growing seasons (2022–2024) in a temperate agroecosystem. Root length density (RLD), root diameter, grain yield, soil temperature, volumetric water content, and soil CO 2 efflux were assessed, and relationships among root traits, soil microclimatic conditions, and CO 2 efflux were examined. Integrated technology significantly increased RLD by 6% in 2022 and 13% in 2023, whereas the difference was minimal in 2024. No-tillage produced higher RLD than harrowing and conventional ploughing in 2022 and 2023, whereas tillage effects were not significant in 2024. Grain yield varied markedly among years, coinciding with contrasting seasonal climatic conditions. Integrated technology increased yield by 12% in 2022, whereas no-tillage significantly reduced yield in 2024. Soil CO 2 efflux declined from 2022 to 2024 and was highest in 2022, which had the greatest May–July precipitation, indicating an association between seasonal water availability and soil respiration. Relationships between root traits and soil CO 2 efflux were weak and inconsistent across years, indicating that variation in total soil respiration could not be explained by the measured root traits alone. Overall, the findings demonstrate that winter wheat root and yield responses to tillage and agricultural technology vary substantially among growing seasons, highlighting the importance of considering both belowground plant traits and soil microclimatic conditions when evaluating crop-management strategies.