The so-called REDUCED TILLAGE is one the most important management practices for soil and water conservation. In order to study the effect of REDUCED TILLAGE on energy productivity and wheat yield in Kalpoush region of Shahrood, a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) experiment with sunflower-wheat rotation was conducted having five treatments and four replicates. The treatments were consisted of chisel plowing at spring + disking (T1), moldboard plowing +disking (T2), REDUCED TILLAGE with disk harrow (T3), disk plowing + disking (T4) and chisel plowing at autumn +disking (T5). Sunflower was planted at May 2008 and 2011. After harvesting at October 2008 and 2011, all plots were disked. Wheat was planted at November 2008 and 2011 and harvested at July 2009 and 2012. The results showed that there was no significant difference among the treatments (P<5%). In 2009 the maximum (1708 kg/ha) and minimum (1412 kg/ha) crop yield were belonged to T5 and T3 treatments, respectively. In 2011, the maximum (1638 kg/ha) and minimum (1388 kg/ha) yield was obtained from T5 and T2 treatments, respectively. Further data analysis showed that soil water content and wheat yield differences are not significant among the treatments (P<5%). The maximum and minimum soil moisture and wheat yield related to chisel and moldboard ploughs, respectively. Maximum and minimum energy productivity was related to disk harrow and moldboard ploughs, respectively. Chisel plugging increased the wheat yield. Soil inversion index difference was significant among the treatments (P<1%). Maximum and minimum soil inversion index related to moldboard and chisel ploughs, respectively. Considering disk harrow advantages and results of this experiment, for wheat production it may be recommended that plowing can be replaced by disk harrow, disk harrowing for seedbed preparation is sufficient, and plowing isn’t required.

In order to study the effects of various TILLAGE methods on some soil physic-chemical properties, soil moisture maintain and sunflower performance, in Kalpoush dryland region of Miami, this project conducted as Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications in wheat rotation. Treatments were included, 1-moldboard plowing + disk harrow (CT), 2-REDUCED TILLAGE with disk harrow (RT1), 3-REDUCED TILLAGE with chisel plowing (RT2), 4-REDUCED TILLAGE with chisel packer (RT3) and 5-direct seeding or noTILLAGE (NT). The results showed that at depths of 0-15 cm, soil moisture storage in conservation TILLAGE was higher than the conventional TILLAGE (P<0. 05). In the first and third years of the experiment, in the conventional method, compared with the no-TILLAGE, the yield of sunflower was higher. In the final year (2016), the result was reverse. Combined analysis of 3-years on sunflower yield showed that conventional TILLAGE and direct seeding were in the same class. In low precipitation year (2016), sunflower grain yield decreased in the conventional method but it increased a little in direct seeding method. In addition, soil moisture saving and precipitation use efficiency in direct cultivation was more than conventional method. Results of research showed that, after several years, grain yield of the sunflower has increased in conservation method and this may be an appropriate alternative to the conventional TILLAGE method.

Soil TILLAGE although have prominent and beneficial effects, but in some cases may have negative results. Applying suitable TILLAGE methods can decrease the damage. This study was conducted to identify the effect of various TILLAGE methods on rice yield and its components in summer 2003 on a clay soil in Shawoor Agricultural Research Station, north of Ahwaz. Experiment was conducted as split plots and Randomized Complete Blokes Design in three replications. Main plots were conventional TILLAGE (Tl), REDUCED TILLAGE which consisted of two passes of heavy disc harrow (T2), two passes of low disc harrow (T3), one pass of cultivator in depth 10 cm (T4), one pass of cultivator in depth 15cm (T5), one pass of rotivator in depth 5cm (T6) and no-TILLAGE method (T7). Subplots were two rice cultivars Anboory (VI) and LD183 (V2). The results showed that there was a significant difference among TILLAGE methods for yield, panicles and plants per square meter. Howeven, the difference was not significant for .number of seed per panicle, thousand kernel weight (T.K.W) and harvesting index. Difference among conventional TILLAGE and REDUCED TILLAGE (T2-T6) with no-TILLAGE method was also significant for yield, although there was no significant difference between conventional TILLAGE and REDUCED TILLAGE methods. Also, difference among varieties was significant for yield and yield components and V2 was better than VI. Interaction between TILLAGE methods and variety cultivar treatments for all indicators was not significant. Results from regression analysis for all TILLAGE methods showed that the number of panicle per square meter was most important component of yield. Consequently, suggestion for rice direct seeding in Shawoor and similar regions, based on working times and machine types, can be proposed for one of the REDUCED TILLAGE methods, particularly rotary tiller, replacing conventional TILLAGE method.

Due to the importance of the use of REDUCED TILLAGE systems to reduce energy crops, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized block design with 6 treatment and 3 replications in 2011-2012 growing season in the khuzestan province. Treatments includeing conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow, conventional TILLAGE without using moldboard plow, REDUCED TILLAGE, no-TILLAGE with 100% crop residue retained, no-TILLAGE with 60% crop residue retained, no-TILLAGE without crop residue retained. In this research, fuel consumption, time of any operation and total time of TILLAGE and planting wheat, TILLAGE and planting energy, emergence of wheat, weed density, the number of ears per square meter, operation of biological and wheat grain yield, harvest index, the weight of one thousand seeds, inpout energy, outpout energy, net energy, productivity energy, specific energy and effeciency energy are measured. The results show that the maximum and the minimum amounts of fuel were obtained in traditional culture treatment (93. 67 L/ha) and in no-TILLAGE treatment (14. 57 L/ha), respectively. The maximum and minimum of efficiency energy is in REDUCED TILLAGE (2. 53%) and conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow (2. 27%) treatments, respectively, and also the maximum and minimum of energy intensity is in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow and REDUCED TILLAGE treatments, respectively. Totally, the most expensive (12 million Rial/ha) and highest revenue generating (27. 4 million Rial/ha) is obtained in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow treatment than other treatments. Totally, the most expensive (12 million Rial/ha) and highest revenue generating (27. 4 million Rial/ha) is obtained in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow treatment than other treatments. Totally, the most expensive (12 million Rial/ha) and highest revenue generating (27. 4 million Rial/ha) is obtained in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow treatment than other treatments. Totally, the most expensive (12 million Rial/ha) and highest revenue generating (27. 4 million Rial/ha) is obtained in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow treatment than other treatments. Totally, the most expensive (12 million Rial/ha) and highest revenue generating (27. 4 million Rial/ha) is obtained in conventional TILLAGE using moldboard plow treatment than other treatments.

Adoption of conservative agriculture at farm level is associated with reducing the production costs and leads to crop yield stability. The aim of this study was to prioritize experimental treatments based on different criteria by applying "technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution" (TOPSIS). A filed experiment was carried out at Zarghan research station, Fars province, Iran, during 2014-2016 growing seasons. Experimental treatments were three TILLAGE practices including conventional TILLAGE (CT), REDUCED TILLAGE (RT) and no TILLAGE (NT) that were assigned to main plots and four spring wheat genotypes (Chamran, Sirvan, Picaflor#1 and M-89-10)were randomized in subplots using split-plot arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications. Selected criteria including two groups of economic-i. e. water cost, weed control cost, production cost and gross margin-and agronomic – i. e. grain yield and soil bulk density criteria used to prioritize the treatments. The weights of bulk density (0. 040), grain yield (0. 180), gross margin (0. 280), water cost (0. 0270), weed control cost (0. 150), and production cost (0. 080) was calculated. Results showed, considering all criteria to prioritize wheat genotypes under different TILLAGE practices, that Sirvan and Picaflor#1 genotypes under RT practice could be the first treatments in 2014-15 and 2015-16 growing seasons, respectively. Therefore, the multiple criteriamethodshould be used for selection of the best TILLAGE practices and wheat genotypes under TILLAGE practices rather than a criterion such as grain yield or production cost.

Integrated weed management in canola (Hyola 401) was studied in an experiment conducted in 2014-2015 growing season in“Kohghilooyeh and Boyer Ahmad”, Iran.The experiment was performed in strip split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications. TILLAGE systems with three levels (conventional TILLAGE, REDUCED TILLAGE and no-TILLAGE) assigned to main plots, and herbicide applications at four levels consisted of trifluralin (1200 g ai ha-1, 48% EC), quinmerac+metazachlor (1040 g ai ha-1, 41.6% SC), clopyralid (180 g ai ha-1, 30% SL) +setoxydim (375 g ai ha-1, 12.5% EC), clopyralid (180 g ai ha-1) +haloxyfop-R methyl ester (81 g ai ha-1, 10.8 % EC) and weed free treatments. Results showed that weed density and dry weight reductions were 76.84% and 68.08% in REDUCED TILLAGE system+quinmearc+metazachlor application, respectively. It was, also, observed that treatment influenced plant height, biological yield, harvest Index, silique number per plant, seed number per silique, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. The maximum yield (3226 kg.ha-1) was obtained by using REDUCED TILLAGE+quinmearc+metazachlor application. Therefore, it would be concluded that REDUCED TILLAGE+quinmearc+metazachlor was the best treatment to control weed and achieve high canola seed yield. The results, also, revealed that use of clopyralid+ Haloxyfop-R-methyl ester+no-TILLAGE resulted in lowest yield (467 kg.ha-1) So, it was considered as inefficient treatment.

In order to investigate fuel consumption for soil preparation and sowing operation in barley farms, three TILLAGE methods were considered for a period of two years (2009-2010). Results from analysis of variance for fuel consumption of the three TILLAGE methods showed a significant difference at 1% level. Mean value of the fuel consumption in conventional TILLAGE was 58.48 (lits/ha), whereas for REDUCED TILLAGE was 29.67 and in No-till was 14.33 liters per hectare, respectively. Results from analysis of variance for field performance in three TILLAGE methods showed a significant difference at 1% level. Mean value of crop yield in conventional TILLAGE was 5.01 (tons/ha), in REDUCED TILLAGE 4.9 and in No-till 3.5 ton per hectare were obtained. REDUCED TILLAGE method in condition that irrigated field due to REDUCED traffic (which uses less cost and more profits, saving in time, optimum fuel and also less compaction) is suggested instead of conventional and No TILLAGE.

To study the effect of conservation TILLAGE on irrigation scheduling and quantitative and qualitative characteristics of spring rapeseed (RGS 003), a split-plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications was conducted in sandy-clay-loam soil of East Azerbaijan region. The TILLAGE treatments were: T1: conventional TILLAGE, T2: reduce TILLAGE, T3: no-TILLAGE. The irrigation treatments were irrigation after 25 (I1), 50 (I2) and 75 (I3) percent of moisture depletion in root zone. The water consumption was calculated by measuring soil moisture content in the root zone. Results indicated that, TILLAGE and irrigation treatments had significant effects on grain and oil yield (p<0.01). The interaction effects of these treatments was not significant. Since this experiment was carried out in one year, the effects of conservation TILLAGE were not visible. However, treatment T1I2 resulted in maximum grain and oil yields (1012, 392 kg/ha, respectively) with 7620 m3/ha water consumption was recommendable.

TILLAGE and organic matter management have some impact on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, therefore they influence water and solute transport in soil. This study was performed in two consecutive years. Different TILLAGE treatments including disk harrowing + two disk harrowings as REDUCED TILLAGE (15 cm plowing depth) and moldboard plowing + two disk harrowings as conventional TILLAGE system (30 cm plowing depth) were used. Also, three levels of 0, 30 and 60 tons per hectare farmyard manure were also used as organic manure treatments. The above mentioned treatments were done in a split block design with 3 replications and under corn cultivation for two years. In order to determine solute transport, potassium bromide was added to soil at concentration of 16.67 g/l. Soil sampling from furrow was conducted after 126, 315 and 630 mm irrigation, respectively. Sampling depth were 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120 cm. The results showed that bromide leaching and transport was significantly lower under REDUCED TILLAGE (T1) in comparison to conventional TILLAGE (T2) irrespective to water irrigation content. This is due to higher soil loosing by T2 compared to T1. The results indicated that manure had no significant effect on bromide transport. With increasing irrigation water content, bromide leaching to lower layers increased as well. Under T1, after 126 and 315 mm water, most of bromide has remained at depth of 0-15 cm. However, by adding 630 mm of water, bromide concentration REDUCED considerably at surface layer. Although bromide leaching was higher at T2 than T1 treatment, but due to low permeability of subsoil layers, bromide concentration (tracer) at topsoil was considerable. But, by adding 630 mm water in the last stage of sampling, the bromide concentration at surface layer (0-15 cm) showed a reduction, therefore a great amount of trace element has escaped from this layer.