Root:shoot ratio of field crops under conventional and conservation tillage: A meta analysis

• DOI: 10.1111/sum.70026
• Publication Date: 2025-01-30T09:26:51Z
• Authors: Seyed Hamid Ahmadi; Sabine Julia Seidel; Gina Lopez; Bahareh Kamali; Thomas Gaiser; Sofia Hadir; Dereje Tamiru Demie; Mathias Neumann A...; Frank Ewert; Ixchel Hernandez ...
• Keywords: conservation tillage; conventional tillage; crop species; monocot and dicot crops; root:shoot ratio; soil texture; crop species; root:shoot ratio; conservation tillage; conventional tillage; soil texture; monocot and dicot crops

Abstract Conventional tillage (CT) is a widely used agricultural practice aimed at loosening soil to enhance water infiltration and root growth. However, it can lead environmental issues such as increased erosion loss of nutrients carbon. To address these challenges, non‐conventional systems like no‐tillage minimum (collectively referred NT) have gained popularity in recent decades. This review examines the effects CT NT on root: shoot ratio (R:S) based 28 studies covering common crops across various climates managements. Most were primarily maize, wheat, rapeseed barley. Meta‐analysis showed non‐significant differences ( p = .27) among with respect their response R:S two practices. Rapeseed barley exhibited higher by 2% 15%, while maize wheat demonstrated 6%, respectively, although where not significant. In terms texture classes, grown sandy soils had under than NT, but no significant found .19). emerged textures, silty clay, loam clay showing highest < .05) cluster loam, lower R:S. Additionally, dicot displayed an 8% compared CT, this was statistically .24). Results indicated .22) between deep (>30 cm) shallow (<30 sampling depths. The findings indicate that more field experiments are needed fully understand impact methods genotypes, environments