Effect of cover crops and soil tillage methods for sowing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on selected soil physical properties

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of soil physical properties (available water, soil moisture, bulk density and soil capillary water capacity) at three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) at the beginning of vegetation season and at harvest of spring wheat after different cover crops (white mustard, Nakielska cultivar) and soil tillage methods in a three–year study. The field experiment was conducted at the Brody Research and Education Station of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland (52°26’ N; 16°17’ E). Multivariate statistical methods were used: canonical variable analysis and Mahalanobis distances. The most significant differences were observed between cover crop and spring wheat cultivated with direct sowing technology in 2012 and control without cover crop and spring wheat cultivation after ploughing technology in 2013 (soil depth at 0–10 cm); cover crop after skimming and simplified soil tillage for spring wheat in 2011 and no cover crop and direct–seeded spring wheat in 2012 (soil depth at 10–20 cm); and between cover crop after skimming and spring wheat cultivation in direct sowing technology in 2013 and cover crop in direct sowing technology and ploughing technology under spring wheat sowing in 2013 (soil depth at 20–30 cm). Canonical variables analysis provided a comprehensive assessment of the variation in the effect of cover crops and tillage method on many traits.