Effect of deep tillage on soil properties and crop (wheat) yield

• Published in: Soil & environment (Faisalabad) Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 177 - 180
• Main Authors: Ahmad, M. (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power), Abdullah, H. (Government of Punjab, Khanewal (Pakistan). Dept. of Agricultural engineering), Iqbal, M. (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Dept. of Farm Machinery and Power), Umair, M, Ghani, M.U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2010
• Subjects: CROP YIELD; DEEP TILLAGE; GERMINATION; SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SOIL DENSITY; SOIL WATER CONTENT; TRITICUM AESTIVUM
• ISSN: 2074-9546

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of various tillage depths on soil properties and wheat yield. Different implement used were: rotavator, modified rotavator, spade cultivator, chisel plow and combination of chisel and rotavator. The results showed significant effect of these tillage implements on soil properties and yield of crop. All the tillage implements showed nearly same bulk density on top layer but large variation was noted at greater depth. Penetration resistance (PR) at top layer (0-10 cm) was minimum 0.31 M Pa with chisel plow + rotavator and maximum 2.46 M Pa at depth of 20-30 cm with rotavator. The spade cultivator produces nearly the same bulk density for the whole depth of 0-30 cm varying from 1.16 to 1.23 M Pa. The minimum bulk density of 1.23g cm-3 at a depth of 20-30 cm was noted with spade cultivator and a maximum of 1.99 g cm-3 with rotavator. The highest wheat grain yield of 4070 kg per ha was achieved with spade cultivator and mini