*Corresponding author: nurbekov2002@yahoo.com and aziz.nurbekov@fao.org

The on-going degradation of soil resources in Central Asia is widespread because of science and technological development through intensification of agriculture, but represents a direct threat to the productive capacity and sustainability of the agricultural production base all over the Central Asia. The main objective of this trial was to study the effect of different tillage methods on the productivity of winter wheat in the rainfed conditions of Southern part of Central Asia.

The study areas are located in the rainfed areas of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. There were three different tillage options; conventional till (CT), minimum till with disking (MTD) and no-till (NT). Analysis of variance (ANOVA), using replicated trials in randomized complete block design, was used to study the relationship between tillage and location.

The study describes the first analysis of no-till systems research in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan under rainfed conditions, and shows that there is potential for introducing no-till practice in the region. No-till winter wheat results in an increase in crop production and higher grain yield as compared to conventional and minimum till.Winter wheat yield under no-till system was numerically higher than conventional till practice.

Overall, the adoption of no-till cropping at farm level is dependent on the technology offering overall cost savings through reduced need for weed management and disease control (or different methods to do so) and/or the achievement of higher stable yields over the years.