scholarly journals Evaluation of Tillage Practices for Maize (Zea mays) Grown on Different Land-Use Systems in Eastern Zambia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paramu Mafongoya ◽  
Obert Jiri ◽  
Mutondwa Phophi

<p>Improved fallows of <em>Sesbania sesban</em> (Sesbania) have been known to improve soil physical and chemical properties and increase crop yield compared to traditional fallows. However, the effects of soil tillage practices after improved fallows on soil properties, weeds, labour and subsequent maize crop have not been assessed in Southern Africa. This study aimed to evaluate how tillage practices affect yield of maize and affect soil properties after two years of fallow and subsequent cropping phase. In this study, done at sites in eastern Zambia, maize yield from a two-year planted Sesbania, natural fallow, continuously fertilized and unfertilized maize were compared under conventional, flat till and zero tillage practices. A split plot experiment, with improved fallow systems in the main plot and the tillage practice in the subplot, was established at the sites. The results showed that the increases in grain yield under conventional tillage over zero tillage practice were 17.8% and 28.2% during 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 seasons, respectively, at Msekera. At Chadiza, the increases in grain yield under conventional tillage over zero tillage were 66.3% and 327.4% during 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 seasons, respectively. Greater maize yields were achieved under Sesbania planted fallows compared to the natural fallow and maize monoculture without fertilizer. Overall, zero tillage practice resulted in lower maize grain yield, higher bulk density, reduced water intake, higher weed infestation and high labour demand during weeding compared to conventional tillage.</p>

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sampurna Bartaula ◽  
Urbasi Panthi ◽  
Anil Adhikari ◽  
Mohan Mahato ◽  
Darbin Joshi ◽  
...  

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the plant height, yield and yield attributes of wheat under different tillage practices and nitrogen level at Dang, Nepal during winter season 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two tillage practices viz. zero tillage and conventional tillage as main plot factor and four level of N viz. 50 kg ha-1, 75 kg ha-1, 100 kg ha-1and 125 kg ha-1 as sub plot factor and each replicated thrice.  The result revealed that there is no significant relation between tillage practice and plant height of wheat while N level significantly affect the plant height. 125 kg N ha-1 recorded the highest plant height (110.7 cm). Zero tillage recorded the highest effective tiller m-2 (254) and grain yield (3.3 t ha-1) whereas spike length, grain spike-1, biological yield and harvest index were not significant with tillage practices. Regarding the N level, 125 kg N ha-1 recorded the highest effective spike m-2 (279), spike length (10.6 cm), grain spike-1 (48), thousand grain weight (46.3 g), grain yield (3.6 t ha-1) and biological yield (9.4 t ha-1). 50 kg N ha-1 recorded the highest harvest index (42.9%). The interaction between the tillage practice and nitrogen level showed the significant effect on grain yield and harvest index where as other parameters showed non-significant relation. The zero tillage with 125 kg N ha-1 recorded the highest grain yield (3.9 t ha-1).


Author(s):  
K. A. Hiremath ◽  
A. S. Halepyati ◽  
B. M. Dodamani ◽  
M. A. Bellakki ◽  
B. M. Chittapur ◽  
...  

A field trial was carried out during July month of kharif and October month of rabi seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi to study the effect of nutrient management through target yield approach on uptake and soil microflora in maize – wheat/chickpea sequence cropping system under different tillage practices. The results indicated that the yield parameters of maize, wheat and chickpea at harvest did not influence due to tillage practices. All these yield parameters were relatively higher in zero tillage with mulch at 5 t ha-1 when compared to conventional tillage. Grain and stover yield of maize did not differ significantly due to different tillage management practices. But, zero tillage with mulch at 5 t ha-1 produced relatively higher yield (65.9 q ha-1) than the zero tillage (64.3 q ha-1) followed by conventional tillage (55.8 q ha-1). The higher organic carbon and soil microflora at different stages were noticed with zero tillage with mulch at 5 t ha-1. The higher available NPK and their uptake by maize crop were also recorded in zero tillage with mulch at 5 t ha-1 followed by zero tillage compared to conventional tillage and zero tillage. The lower available NPK and their uptake by maize crop were recorded in conventional tillage and RDF. Further, due to nutrient management through target yield approach, the yield parameters of maize were differed significantly. Target yield of 10 t ha-1 exhibited significantly higher yield attributes at harvest when compared to other treatments except the targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 and 150% RDF. The lowest values of these attributes were recorded in farmer’s practice of nutrient management followed by RDF. The grain yield and stover yield (69.9 q ha-1and 89.5 q ha-1, respectively) of maize was significantly higher with a targeted yield of 10 t ha-1 followed by targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 and 150% RDF. The lowest grain and stover yield (53.6 q ha-1 and 74.3 q ha-1, respectively) was recorded in farmers practice followed by RDF. Significantly higher soil microflora, available NPK and their uptake by the maize crop was noticed in target yield of 10 t ha-1 followed by targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 and 150% RDF as compared to other treatments. The lowest soil microflora, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) and their uptake by the maize was recorded in farmers practice followed by RDF. The same trend was followed statistically for organic carbon due to different treatments. Non significant differences for grain and stover yield of maize was recorded due to interaction of tillage and nutrient management practices. Similar trend was also followed due to interaction of tillage and nutrient management practices for succeeding wheat and chickpea. The yield and yield parameters of wheat and chickpea did not differ due to tillage practices and target yield approaches followed for maize. Maize equivalent yield of wheat and chickpea and system productivity were followed same trend as that of maize yield. Among different tillage practices, zero tillage and zero tillage with mulch at 5 t ha-1 were recorded maximum net returns and higher BC ratio. Similarly, among different nutrient management practices, the target yield of 10 t ha-1 followed by targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 was recorded maximum net returns and higher BC ratio as compare to other treatments.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-529
Author(s):  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Pramila Aggarwal ◽  
Amarendra Kumar

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate two important conservation tillage practices namely zero tillage in wheat and bed planting for growing vegetables for deciding the economic feasibility of their adoption in Gohana and Kharkhoda block of Sonipat district in Haryana. In first scenario, comparison were made between Puddled transplanted rice followed by conventional tilled wheat (PTR – CTW), and puddled transplanted rice followed by zero till wheat (PTR – ZTW). In second scenario, conventionally tilled Jowar in kharif followed by conventionally tilled wheat system (CTJ – CTW) was compared with vegetables on beds in both seasons (BV-BV). Sowing of wheat by zero till drill in PTR – ZTW system, decreased cost of cultivation by 21% over its value of Rs 20688 in PTR – CTW treatment; increased grain yield by 5% over the grain yield of 5.99 t ha-1 in PTR – CTW treatment. The B: C ratio of PTR – ZTW was 4.65 while that of PTR – CTW treatment was 3.24, which indicated economic viability of zero tillage practice. While in case of cauliflower in BV-BV system, the total cost of cultivation was estimated at Rs 51500/ha and net returns of Rs 38072/ha i.e an increased net return of 5.8 times over the net return of Rs 46223.5 in CTJ – CTW treatment. The B: C ratio of BV-BV was 5.21, while that of CTJ – CTW treatment was 2.35. Thus, it was concluded that in rabi season, cauliflower on beds and zero till wheat are most economically viable options in this temporary waterlogged regions of Yamuna basin.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Ureste ◽  
Santos Campos

Under the rainfed conditions of the central zonc of Veracruz Mexico, the res pon se of the maize crop to the conventional, reduced and zero tillage systems was evaluated in four tropical soils of different texture and drainagc degree. Plant population and grain yield were used as indicating variables. Economical aspects were measured by the Cost/Benefit relationship. The most uniform and highest plant population and grain yield were achieved in the fine and medium textured, well drained Fluvisols, showing no difference between these two soils or among the four tillage systems. In the coarse textured,excessively drained Luvisol, the plant population was higher with zero tillage than with the reduced and conventional tillage; however, the grain yield achieved with zero and reduced tillage was practically alike, but higher than that achieved with the conventional tillage. In the fine textured, poorly drained Venisol, the lowest graio yield was obtained with the four tillage systems, being higher for the conventional tillage system. Zero and reduced tillage reached the highest Cost/Benefit relationship in the Fluvisols and Luvisols. On the clay Vertisol soils, it is not economically feasible to produce corn with any of the studied tillage systems, unless the excess moisture in the soil is reduced.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
ANIL KHIPPAL ◽  
KAMINI KUMARI S. Bhadauria ◽  
JASBIR SINGH

In Haryana (India) cotton is generally sown with conventional tillage practices witnesses poor germination and plant establishment. Poor plant stand is attributed by burning of emerging plants due to very high temperature at the time of planting, which is further worsen by crust formation due to pre-monsoon showers. Keeping these points in view, an experiment was conducted with farmers' participatory research mode in village Hajwana of Kaithal district. Cotton sown with zero tillage technique resulted in approximately five percent higher yield i.e. 136.3 kg ha-1 over conventional tillage. Mean returns over variable cost of all the three years were 10.8 percent i.e. Rs. 11794 ha-1 more in zero tillage over conventional tillage. Benefit: cost ratio were 3.86, 3.86 and 4.61 in conventional method of planting, bed planting and zero tillage technique, respectively. Zero tillage planting of cotton reduced fuel consumption by 93.4 % and 91.7 % compared to bed planting and conventional planting respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-63
Author(s):  
K Pariyar ◽  
A Chaudhary ◽  
P Sapkota ◽  
S Sharma ◽  
CB Rana ◽  
...  

The effects of two tillage methods (zero tillage and conventional tillage), two residue managements (residue kept and residue removed) and two levels of cropping system (maize + soybean and sole maize) were studied over 3 years (2015-2017) at Dailekh district of Nepal. Arun-2 and Puja were the varieties of maize and soybean used respectively, followed by winter wheat. The results revealed that the maize + soybean system had significantly higher plant population and ear population (34.83 thousands ha-1 and 34.35 thousands ha-1, respectively), grains per row (37.1), ear length (16.6 cm) and 20.5% higher grain yield as compared to sole maize. The highest maize equivalent yield (7.92 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + soybean as compared to the lower grain yield equivalent (7.06 t ha-1) in sole maize. Zero tillage accounted relatively higher benefits (high net income and B:C ratio) as compared to conventional tillage. The residue kept plot resulted significantly higher B:C ratio (2.41) than the residue removed (2.11) and the maize + soybean recorded 82.5% greater B:C ratio compared to sole maize. Net annual income was significantly higher in zero tillage, residue kept and maize + soybean system (NRs. 223072.00, 222958.00 and 269016.00 ha-1 respectively). Such combinations are recommended for Dailekh district of Nepal to have profitable crop productivity. SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 49-63 (2019)


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 268-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elói Panachuki ◽  
Ildegardis Bertol ◽  
Teodorico Alves Sobrinho ◽  
Paulo Tarso Sanches de Oliveira ◽  
Dulce Buchala Bicca Rodrigues

Surface roughness of the soil is formed by mechanical tillage and is also influenced by the kind and amount of plant residue, among other factors. Its persistence over time mainly depends on the fundamental characteristics of rain and soil type. However, few studies have been developed to evaluate these factors in Latossolos (Oxisols). In this study, we evaluated the effect of soil tillage and of amounts of plant residue on surface roughness of an Oxisol under simulated rain. Treatments consisted of the combination of the tillage systems of no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and minimum tillage (MT) with rates of plant residue of 0, 1, and 2 Mg ha-1 of oats (Avena strigosa Schreb) and 0, 3, and 6 Mg ha-1 of maize (Zea mays L.). Seven simulated rains were applied on each experimental plot, with intensity of 60±2 mm h-1 and duration of 1 h at weekly intervals. The values of the random roughness index ranged from 2.94 to 17.71 mm in oats, and from 5.91 to 20.37 mm in maize, showing that CT and MT are effective in increasing soil surface roughness. It was seen that soil tillage operations carried out with the chisel plow and the leveling disk harrow are more effective in increasing soil roughness than those carried out with the heavy disk harrow and leveling disk harrow. The roughness index of the soil surface decreases exponentially with the increase in the rainfall volume applied under conditions of no tillage without soil cover, conventional tillage, and minimum tillage. The oat and maize crop residue present on the soil surface is effective in maintaining the roughness of the soil surface under no-tillage.


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-224
Author(s):  
H. Kuipers

In a brief review, earlier German and English attitudes to tillage research are contrasted, especially on the emphasis on soil structure v emphasis on weed control; the effect of the advent of zero tillage on this difference is discussed. It was concluded that chemical weed control gives greater freedom in tillage practice, and research is revealing risks that may be unacceptable for certain crops when tillage practices are changed. CCT. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibek Thapa ◽  
Keshab Raj Pande ◽  
Baburam Khanal ◽  
Santosh Marahatta

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, residue management and cropping system on soil properties at NMRP, Rampur, Chitwan from November 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was laid on Strip split design with combination of 12 different treatments i.e, zero tillage & conventional tillage as main plot in the strip, residue retention & residue removal as sub-plot factor and maize – wheat, maize + soybean – wheat & soybean – wheat cropping system as sub-sub plot factor. Three replications of the treatments were made. Soil sample before experiment and after harvest of wheat was taken (0-15cm). The experiment showed significant effect of zero tillage on organic carbon (2.169%) and on total soil nitrogen (0.112 %). Zero tillage with retention of residues is valuable tool for the conservation agriculture and helps in sustainability of soil however long-term research for the tillage management and residue retention should be conducted to highlight the major effects on change in properties of soil.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 164-168 


2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 3832-3836
Author(s):  
Song Wei Jia

For the last decades, because of increasing attention to global change, the carbon cycle in the terrestrial ecosystem has become a hotspot problem for every country. It has 1.6 Pg/a C to release into atmosphere because of the irrational land-use, quickening the step of global warming trend. But agricultural soil has the double-sword effects. If improper soil tillage practices are adopted, agricultural soil may become the source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. And if adopting effective management measurement and scientific tillage technology, agricultural soil may become carbon sink. This paper reviewed the effects of conventional tillage and conservation tillage on soil organic carbon (SOC), and found that conservation tillage has a huge potential for sequestrating organic carbon compared with conventional tillage. Finally, the important significance of agriculture soil carbon sequestration was discussed in detail.


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