TITLE:
Influence of Tillage Practices on Soil Physical Properties and Growth and Yield of Maize in Jabal al Akhdar, Libya
AUTHORS:
Gandura O. Abagandura, Gamal Eld-Deen Mohamed Nasr, Nouri Mosa Moumen
KEYWORDS:
Bulk Density, Conventional Tillage, Ridge Tillage, Tillage Cost, Zero Tillage
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.7 No.7,
July
7,
2017
ABSTRACT: Different tillage practices are used for maize cropping in Libya. Yet, the effects
of these practices on soil physical properties and maize growth and yield are
not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different
tillage practices on soil physical properties and maize growth and yield in
Libya. A field experiment was conducted in 2009 and repeated in 2010 using
three tillage practices (conventional tillage (CT), ridge tillage (RT) and zero
tillage (ZT)). Data about soil physical properties (penetration resistance (PR),
bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP) and saturated hydraulic conductivity
(Ks)) across soil depths, maize growth components (plant height, number of
leaves, leaf area index and dry root weight) at 60, 75 and 125 days after planting,
and maize yield (grain and stover) at harvest were collected and statistically
analyzed in both years. To evaluate the effects of the tillage practices
economically, the tillage operation cost and production cost were calculated.
The results showed that at the surface layer (0 - 20 cm), CT had lower PR and
lower BD, but higher TP and Ks compared to RT and ZT. At 20 - 40 cm and
40 - 60 cm depths, the lower PR and PD and higher TP and Ks were under ZT
and RT compared to CT. All maize growth parameters at different times were
highest for CT followed by RT and lowest for ZT. The CT practice presented
the highest grain and stover yield followed by RT and ZT. However, harvest
index was higher where ZT was applied. While tillage operation costs were the
highest for CT followed by RT and ZT, the production costs were the highest
for ZT followed by RT and CT. In general, the CT practice produced higher
maize growth and yield, lower production cost, and higher tillage operation
cost than those are planted using RT and ZT practices.