The effects of soil management systems and winter crop rotation on wheat yield and root diseases were assessed. Four soil management systems: 1) no-tillage; 2) minimum tillage;3) conventional tillage using a disk plow plus disk harrow and 4) conventional tillage using a moldboard plow plus disk harrow, and three crop rotation systems [system I (wheat/soybean), system II (wheat/soybean and common vetch/corn or sorghum), and system III (wheat/soybean, white oats/soybean, and common vetch/corn or sorghum)] were compared. A randomized block experimental design, whereas split-plots and three replicates, was used. The main plots were formed by the soil management systems, while the split-plots consisted of crop rotation systems. Yield and plant height of wheat grown under no-tillage and minimum tillage was higher than the yield of wheat grown under conventional soil tillage using either disk plow or moldboard plow. Weight of 1,000 kernels was higher in the no-tillage. Crop rotation was efficient in reducing root diseases and in increasing wheat yield. The lowest wheat yield, grain weight/plant, weight of 1,000 kernels and test weight (g/hl) were obtained in monoculture (wheat/soybean).
crop succession; conventional tillage; minimum tillage; no-tillage; root diseases
