Enhancing the Environmental Sustainability of Agroecosystems Under Long-Term No-Till Management in the Ordinary Chernozems of Northern Kazakhstan

One of the factors contributing to the enhanced environmental sustainability of agroecosystems in Northern Kazakhstan is the introduction of intensive farming systems adapted to local climatic conditions. The application of zero-tillage technologies (hereinafter referred to as No-Till) offers several advantages, including the preservation of soil fertility. However, in Northern Kazakhstan, these technologies are currently used on relatively limited areas due to insufficient research and the long adaptation period required for their effective implementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) stocks under long-term No-Till management in two crop rotation systems. The study was conducted on ordinary chernozem soils of Northern Kazakhstan from 2014 to 2024, with monitoring of soil agrochemical, microbiological, and agrophysical properties, and was primarily exploratory in nature. The research was carried out at the experimental station (North Kazakhstan Region, Republic of Kazakhstan), located in the dry-steppe zone. The results showed that the long-term application of No-Till technology in crop rotation systems increased the soil humus balance by an average of 0.4–0.6%, whereas a decline in this indicator was observed under conventional farming systems. These findings were supported by correlation analysis of the interactions among the studied factors.