Experimental study on paddy field mechanized conservation  tillage in double-cropping areas in southern China

In Jiangxi， the soil characteristics and highly intensive utilization caused a lot of complexity and difficulty for mechanized conservation tillage. Paddy field cultivation experiment was carried out by three cultivators， including crawler self-propelled rotary cultivator， rotary tiller fitted on roller tractor and rotary tiller fitted on walking tractor. The results showed that compared to roller tractor and walking tractor， the crawler self-propelled rotary cultivator was more efficient， more flexible and easier to walk in mud， it saved 30-75 min/hm 2 compared to roller tractor， saved 10-12.5 h/hm 2 compared to walking tractor. After the crawler self-propelled rotary cultivator tillage， the field surface was flat， the mud feet change degree was low， the field was suitable for mechanical planting; for early rice， the yield was 1.0% higher than roller tractor， and 2.3% higher than walking tractor; for late rice， the yield was 0.5%-1.0% higher than roller tractor， and 0.5%-2.3% higher than walking tractor. Therefore， the crawler self-propelled rotary cultivator tillage could reduce the mechanical damage of paddy field， increase rice yield and achieve the goal of conservation tillage.