Effect of tillage practices on soil fertility
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2014, Vol 5, Issue 2
Abstract
Food security depends on sustainable agriculture. Sustainability hinges on the efficient and judicious use of land and soil resources. This study sought to assess the effect of tillage practices on the fertility of the soil. The tillage practices assessed were 1. Tractor plough topsoil (TpT) 2. Tractor plough subsoil (TpS) 3. Bullock plough topsoil (BpT) 4. Bullock plough subsoil (BpS) 5. Hands hoeing topsoil (HpT) 6. Hands hoeing subsoil (HpS) 7. Zero tillage topsoil (ZpT) 8. Zero tillage subsoil (ZpS) 9. Fallow land topsoil (FlT) and 10. Fallow land subsoil (FlS). The study consisted of two components namely: a survey and soil nutrient analysis. ANOVA was used to analyze the results using the GENSTAT statistical package whilst treatment means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P=0.05. Survey indicated that 80 % of the respondents did not know of the effects of their tillage practices on soil fertility. Forty four percent, 33 % and 23 % of them indicated use of fallow system, crop residues and crop rotation as the way forward for maintaining soil fertility respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) with regards to total exchangeable bases and effective cation exchange capacity between fallow land topsoil and the rest of the tillage practices with the former showing superiority. Yield of maize per acre also indicated a significant difference between hands hoed and zero tillage with zero tillage being superior. However, bulk density, organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorus did not show any significant differences among and between the tillage practices (P> 0.05).
Authors and Affiliations
Tindjina I, Aikins S, Tengan KML
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP37859
- DOI -
- Views 160
- Downloads 0
Evaluation of variety and plant density on grain yield, number of seed per cob and 100 grain weight in maize (Zea mays L.)
Maize is ranked third among cereal crops after wheat and rice. Maize is used as staple food. Maize is also used as feed for livestock. Planting density plays an important role in achieving high productivity per unit are...
Influence of soil physicochemical parameters on the abundance of Paracoelophrya polymorphus (Ciliophora: Radiophryidae) commensal of earthworms (Annelida: Glossoscolecidae) collected in Bambui (North-West Cameroon)
Earthworms of the genus Alma nilotica belonging to the family Glossoscolecidae, lodges an abundant fauna of astomatous ciliates in its digestive tract. Each species is located in a well-defined portion of the gut and th...
Role of nanotechnology in removing metal ions from waste water: A brief review
Clean and affordable water to meet basic human needs has become a majestic challenge to the current century. All around the world, water supply thrash about to keep up with the rapid demand growth, which is aggravated by...
Impact of concrete block bin on wheat storage losses and food security
Farmers in Pakistan face many storage problems leading to huge losses in the stored wheat. It is therefore, utmost important to protect our food reserves and prevent losses caused by pest’s infestation and improper sto...
Impact of climatic factors on forage production in Ali Abad Rangeland, Iran
The responses of four steppe forage species in the Ali Abad rangeland to precipitation timing were assessed for a period of 9 years (2004 to2012). Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between annual...