Research Article

Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan

Volume: 15 Number: 3 June 30, 2026
  • Ibadulla Tautenov
  • Serik Bekzhanov
  • Laura Tokhetova *
  • Nurali Nurgaliyev
  • Bekzatkhan Kultassov
  • Ainur Demesinova
  • Karlygash Kaimoldayeva

Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different primary tillage systems on selected soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity in paddy-derived meadow-marsh soils of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. The experiment was carried out during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons at the scientific station of the Kazakh Research Institute of Rice Growing named after I. Zhakhayev. Three tillage treatments were compared: moldboard plowing (25–27 cm), non-inversion tillage (14–16 cm), and sweep plowing (13–15 cm). The study assessed pre-sowing soil moisture, bulk density, surface roughness, aggregate-size distribution, soil structure coefficient, field emergence, plant survival, green biomass yield, and grain yield. The two experimental years differed in weather conditions, with 2025 being warmer and drier than 2024 during critical growth stages. Tillage significantly affected both soil physical properties and crop performance. Sweep plowing and non-inversion tillage conserved more pre-sowing moisture than moldboard plowing, while moldboard plowing resulted in lower bulk density and greater surface roughness. Reduced tillage treatments increased the proportion of 25–10 mm aggregates, whereas moldboard plowing produced a slightly higher soil structure coefficient. Sweep plowing provided the highest field emergence in both years, but moldboard plowing resulted in the highest plant survival, green biomass yield, and grain yield. Averaged across years, moldboard plowing produced the highest grain yield (2.8 ± 0.18 t ha⁻¹), whereas non-inversion tillage and sweep plowing reduced yield by about 0.4–0.5 t ha⁻¹. The results indicate that reduced tillage was advantageous for pre-sowing moisture conservation and early establishment, whereas moldboard plowing created a more favorable root-zone environment for final crop productivity. Under the paddy-derived soils and arid rice-rotation conditions of the Kyzylorda region, moldboard plowing to 25–27 cm was the most effective tillage option for stable grain sorghum production.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Project Number

IRN AP23489478

Thanks

This work was supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan under grant IRN AP23489478, “Ecological testing of domestic and foreign grain sorghum varieties on saline soils of rice systems in the Aral Sea region of Kazakhstan” (2024–2026). The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their careful evaluation and constructive comments, which contributed to improving the quality of the manuscript.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ibadulla Tautenov This is me
0000-0002-6837-1970
Kazakhstan

Serik Bekzhanov This is me
0000-0002-7876-8779
Kazakhstan

Nurali Nurgaliyev This is me
0000-0001-6132-1818
Kazakhstan

Bekzatkhan Kultassov This is me
0000-0002-4682-553X
Kazakhstan

Ainur Demesinova This is me
0000-0001-5399-0421
Kazakhstan

Karlygash Kaimoldayeva This is me
0000-0002-3019-7989
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

November 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 3

APA
Tautenov, I., Bekzhanov, S., Tokhetova, L., Nurgaliyev, N., Kultassov, B., Demesinova, A., & Kaimoldayeva, K. (2026). Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(3), 348-362. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924788
AMA
1.Tautenov I, Bekzhanov S, Tokhetova L, et al. Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026;15(3):348-362. doi:10.18393/ejss.1924788
Chicago
Tautenov, Ibadulla, Serik Bekzhanov, Laura Tokhetova, et al. 2026. “Effects of Primary Tillage Systems on Soil Physical Properties and Grain Sorghum Productivity After Rice in Paddy-Derived Soils under Arid Conditions of the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (3): 348-62. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924788.
EndNote
Tautenov I, Bekzhanov S, Tokhetova L, Nurgaliyev N, Kultassov B, Demesinova A, Kaimoldayeva K (June 1, 2026) Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 3 348–362.
IEEE
[1]I. Tautenov et al., “Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 348–362, June 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1924788.
ISNAD
Tautenov, Ibadulla - Bekzhanov, Serik - Tokhetova, Laura - Nurgaliyev, Nurali - Kultassov, Bekzatkhan - Demesinova, Ainur - Kaimoldayeva, Karlygash. “Effects of Primary Tillage Systems on Soil Physical Properties and Grain Sorghum Productivity After Rice in Paddy-Derived Soils under Arid Conditions of the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/3 (June 1, 2026): 348-362. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924788.
JAMA
1.Tautenov I, Bekzhanov S, Tokhetova L, Nurgaliyev N, Kultassov B, Demesinova A, Kaimoldayeva K. Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026;15:348–362.
MLA
Tautenov, Ibadulla, et al. “Effects of Primary Tillage Systems on Soil Physical Properties and Grain Sorghum Productivity After Rice in Paddy-Derived Soils under Arid Conditions of the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 348-62, doi:10.18393/ejss.1924788.
Vancouver
1.Ibadulla Tautenov, Serik Bekzhanov, Laura Tokhetova, Nurali Nurgaliyev, Bekzatkhan Kultassov, Ainur Demesinova, Karlygash Kaimoldayeva. Effects of primary tillage systems on soil physical properties and grain sorghum productivity after rice in paddy-derived soils under arid conditions of the Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. EJSS. 2026 Jun. 1;15(3):348-62. doi:10.18393/ejss.1924788