- The study focused on comparing the effects of traditional tillage and 6 years of conservation tillage (no-tillage with straw mulch) on the soil exchangeable base (SEB) in Zhangwu County, Liaoning Province.
- Conservation tillage significantly improved the levels of exchangeable potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the topsoil, indicating enhanced nutrient retention and soil health compared to traditional tillage.
- Additionally, conservation tillage altered the ratios of K, Ca, and Mg in the soil, leading to increased vertical variability in these nutrients, which suggests a more dynamic soil structure in the plough layer.