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Effect of Tillage Intensity and Fertilizer Management on Soil Physical Properties, Root Growth and Yield of Rice

M I Hossain
Hybrid rice research, BRAC Gazipur

AKMA Hoque
CERDI, Gazipur

A Mahmud
Dept. of soil science, BAU Mymensingh

MR Bhuiyan
Pathology division BRRI, Gazipur

MA Matin
Dept. of Soil science, BAU Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of tillage intensity, chemical fertilizer and poultry manure on soil physical properties, root growth and yield of BRRI dhan41. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three tillage treatments in main plot. Chemical fertilizer and poultry manure were assigned in sub-plots and replicated thrice. The tillage treatments were one passing of power tiller (T₁), two passing (T₂) and three passing (T₃). Fertilizer and poultry manure i.e. (F₁) treatment was 66 kg N, 14 kg P, 29 kg K, 7 kg S and 2 kg Zn ha^-1and F₂ treatment was 50% of N plus the rest of recommended dose of fertilizers + poultry manure @ 5 t ha^-1. The highest soil moisture content was found under T₃ and F₂treatments and the lowest was found in T₁ and F₁, respectively. The highest bulk density was found in T₁ (1.14 g cm^-3) and F₁ (1.03 g cm^-3) where as the lowest in T₃ (0.97 g cm^-3) and F₂ (0.79 g cm^-3). T₃ and F₂ gave the highest porosity (14.63% and 11.62%) where as the lowest in T₁ and F₁ (8.81% and 11.37%), respectively. Tillage intensity, fertilizer and poultry manure treatments did not influence soil PH significantly. The highest yield of BRRI dhan41 (3.94 t/ha) was recorded in T₃ treatment. So, in a nut shell we can say three passing tillage along with F₂ fertilizer combination should be right choice for farmers. Tillage intensity, fertilizer and poultry manure application facilitated soil aeration, reduced soil bulk density and increased organic matter content of soils which contributed available plant nutrients and increased crop yield.

Keywords: Tillage, Fertilizer, Soil physical properties, Root growth, Rice Yield

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University Farm, under the Department of Soil Science

Start Date: 00-07-2009

End Date: 00-12-2009

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

The specific objectives were to observe the changes in soil physical properties such as bulk density, air-filled porosity, moisture content, the root mass density, yield and yield contributing characters of rice and the relationship between physical properties, yield contributing characters and yield of rice due to differences in tillage intensity and use of chemical fertilizer and manure.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Farm, under the Department of Soil Science during from July-December 2009. The experimental field is located at 24⁰54' N latitude and 90⁰50' E longitudes at a height of 18 m above the mean sea level. The soil belongs to the “Old Brahmaputra Floodplain” under the sonatola soil series. The general soil type is non-calcareous dark grey floodplain Soil. BRRI dhan41 was used as test crop. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design. There were two sets of experimental treatments viz. (i) three tillage treatments arranged as main plot and (ii) fertilizer and manuring treatments were allocated into the three subplots. The treatments were replicated three times. Thus the total number of plot was eighteen. The unit plot size was 4 m x 2.5 m having spacing of plot to plot 0.5 m and block to block 1 m. The experiment consisted of 3 main plot treatments and 3 subplot treatments. The manuring was done with well decomposed poultry manure (containing 0.44% N, 0.1% P and 1.5% K). The fertilizer and poultry manure were applied after the first tillage operation and incorporated into the soil thoroughly. The land was fertilized by applying N, P, K, S and Zn fertilizers i.e. urea 143.47 kg ha^-1, TSP 18.93 kg ha^-1,Muriate of Potash (MOP) 58.23 kg ha^-1, gypsum 38.88 kg ha^-1, zinc sulphate 5.55 kg ha^-1 as per recommendation of Fertilizer Recommendation Guide. Whole amount of TSP, MOP, gypsum and zinc sulphate were applied during final land preparation but the urea was applied in three splits; one third of urea was added at 12 days after transplanting and one third was applied at maximum vegetative growth stage (32 days after transplanting) and the rest of the urea was applied before panicle initiation stage of the crop i.e., 45 days after transplanting.Thirty days old seedlings of BRRIdhan 41 rice were transplanted in 20 × 15 cm spacing with 3 seedlings per hill. Necessary gap filling was done 8 days after transplanting. Weeding and other cultural practices were done as and when. For data collection, five hills from each plot were sampled randomly. The crop was cut at the ground level. Threshing, cleaning, and drying of grain were done separately plot wise. The weights of grain and straw were recorded plot wise. The initial soil sample (0-10 cm soil depth) was collected before final land preparation. The samples were taken by means of an auger from 18 different random spots covering the whole experimental plots. The soil samples were mixed thoroughly to make a composite sample and the unwanted materials such as stubbles, weeds, etc. were removed from soil. The composite soil sample was air- dried ground and sieved through a 10- mesh sieve. This composite soil sample was stored in a clean plastic container for subsequent physical analysis. The soil samples were analyzed for the particle size distribution (Sand, silt and clay). Textural classes were determined by hydrometer method as outlined by Bouyouco. Fifty grams of air- dried soil was taken in a dispersion cup and 10 ml of 5% calgon solution was added to the samples and allowed to soak for 15 minutes, Ninety milliliter distilled water was added to the cup. The suspension was then stirred with an electrical stirrer for 10 minutes. The content of the dispersion cup was then transferred to 1 liter sedimentation cylinder and distilled water was added to make the volume up to the mark. A cork was placed on the mouth of the cylinder and the cylinder was inverted several times until the whole soil mass appeared in the suspension. The cylinder was set upright and the hydrometer readings were taken at 40 seconds and 2 hours of sedimentation. The temperature of the suspension was also recorded with a thermometer at 40 seconds and 2 hours of sedimentation. The corrections of hydrometer readings were made as the hydrometer was calibrated at 680 F. The percentage of sand, silt and clay were calculated. The textural classes were then determined by plotting the results on Marshall’s triangular coordinate designed by Marshall. The bulk density was determined with the help of a core sampler made of metal cylinder of known volume. Air filled porosity was calculated. The soil moisture was determined by gravimetric method. Root mass density was measured at maximum vegetative stage using auger like sampler of 7 cm in diameter. Correlation and regression among soil properties, yield components and yields were studied. Data on different parameters under study were statistically analyzed to ascertain the significance of the experimental results. The means for all the treatments were calculated and analyses of variance of all the characters studied were performed by F-test. The significance of the difference between the pair of means was evaluated at 5% level of significance by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test using MSTAT-C computer package program.

Source of Information: Eco-friendly Agril. J. 6(09): 179- 187, 2013 (September); ISSN 1999-7957

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Achievement/Findings:

Tillage intensity, fertilizer and manuring treatments improved the physical properties of soil i.e., reduced the bulk density of soil but increased the airfilled porosity, root mass density and water holding capacity of soil. A positive relationship was found between the soil properties, yield contributing characters and yield of rice. Tillage practices remarkably reduced soil compaction, which led to better crop yield. However, further investigation is necessary to establish the present findings in different AEZs of Bangladesh with different crops.

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