Zhengqi Ma , Wei Wang

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Field Crop, 2025, Vol. 8, No. 4   
Received: 21 May, 2025    Accepted: 09 Jul., 2025    Published: 29 Jul., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation is increasingly challenged by water scarcity, a pressing concern in many agricultural regions worldwide. This study evaluates the impact of conservation tillage practices-such as no-till, strip-till, and mulch till-on improving water use efficiency (WUE) in barley cropping systems. We investigated how conservation tillage modifies soil structure and moisture dynamics, reduces evaporation, enhances infiltration, and influences root development for more efficient water uptake. The study compared conservation and conventional tillage methods, analyzed long-term data from field trials in China, and integrated remote sensing and soil moisture monitoring to quantify outcomes. Results show that conservation tillage improves WUE and yield stability under drought-prone conditions while offering environmental benefits like reduced erosion and increased soil carbon. However, trade-offs such as weed pressure and equipment requirements present adoption challenges. These findings support conservation tillage as a promising strategy for sustainable barley production, with potential for integration with other agroecological practices. Continued research, farmer support, and policy incentives are essential to maximize adoption and long-term benefits.

Conservation tillage; Water use efficiency; Barley; Soil moisture retention; Sustainable agriculture