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Impact of Conservation Tillage Under Organic Mulches on the Reproductive Efficacy and Yield of Quality Protein Maize

M. A. H. Khan
Professor
Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

M. R. Parvej
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of conservation tillage under organic mulches on the reproductive developments and production potentials of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) cv. Pozarica during the period from November 2007 to April 2008. The study included tillage and zero tillage conditions and four indigenous mulches viz. water hyacinth, rice straw, rice husk and ash. All the mulches significantly modified microclimatic parameters in both tillage and zero tillage conditions. However, under non-tilth condition water hyacinth and rice straw mulches reduced the maximum soil temperature at 5 cm depth by 3.5-4.2°C and 2.4-2.7°C, respectively at 14:00 hrs and raised the minimum temperature by 1.5-2.3°C and 1.2-1.4°C at 06:00 hrs. The water retentive capacity of the mulched soil under zero tillage condition was higher at all the stages of plant growth and ranked in the order of water hyacinth>rice straw>rice husk>ash>control. The reproductive developments in mulched plants were advanced by about 1 to 10 days. Mulching practices also enhanced the yield and yield contributing characters. The grain yield of mulched plants notably water hyacinth was nearly double (8.73 t ha^-1) than unmulched plants (4.93 t ha^-1) under non-tilth condition. The indigenous mulches especially water hyacinth and rice straw, irrespective of tilth or non-tilth conditions, appeared to be great suppressants of weed growth allowing to produce less than one third of the total biomass compared to that of control. The residual mulching effect had little or no influence on physical properties of the soil under both conditions. However, the chemical properties were favourably influenced for the follow-up crops.

Keywords: Conservation tillage, Organic mulches, Soil moisture conservation, QPM., Maize

Location: Field laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-11-2007

End Date: 00-04-2008

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Maize

Objectives:

To evaluate the efficacy of conservation tillage under organic mulches on the reproductive developments and production potentials of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) cv. Pozarica.

Methodology:

Experimental site and planting materials: The present experiment was carried out at the field laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from November 2007 to April 2008. Seeds of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) cv. Pozarica (pedigree no. 8763) were used as planting material. Experimental protocol: Land preparation for the research work was somewhat different from the traditional method. One field remained in zero tillage condition and in late October, rain water was deposited in other field by constructing ‘furrows’ around the field. After 3 days, weeds and stubble were removed by spade and hoe. Manures and fertilizers were applied to the plots as per recommendation. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with two different land conditions (tilth and non-tilth), each comprising of five treatments and four blocks, each representing a replication. Five plots each measuring 15 m × 10 m were prepared in each block. The seeds were sown 25 cm apart in rows at a distance of 75 cm between the rows. After completion of seed germination, the indigenous mulches viz. water hyacinth, rice straw, rice husk and ash at the rate of 10 t ha-1 were uniformly spread immediately over the plots assigned for the definite mulch treatment. Weeding was done manually at 40 and 70 DAS. No irrigation was applied. Appropriate measures were taken against insect-pests and diseases as and when required. Data collection: Data were collected on microclimatic parameters such as soil temperature and moisture and on reproductive attributes namely, days to tasseling, silking and maturity, yield and yield attributes like number of ears plant^-1, ear height, length and diameter, tassel length number of seed rows ear^-1 and seeds row^-1, 1000-grains weight, weight of rachis ear^-1, grain yield, harvest index weed growth and physiochemical properties of soil. Morpho-physiological parameters were obtained from 20 randomly selected plants of each plot. The diurnal variation of soil temperatures was recorded on a clear sunny day with ordinary thermometer cased in copper tubes with pointed tips at hourly intervals at the depth of 5 cm beginning from 06:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs on 22 DAS and 80 DAS. Moisture content at 0-5 cm depths of the soil layers was measured by electronic soil moisture and temperature meter (Delta devices, UK) at 10 day intervals starting from 40 DAS and continued to 120 DAS. Weeds grown in 1 m² area of unit plot were collected from mulching treatments during the weeding at 40 and 70 DAS. The weeds were oven dried at 80±2°C for 48 hrs and measured by an electric balance to record the total weed biomass. After one month of final harvest the analysis of the soil particle of the experimental plots was carried out by hydrometer method. The textural classes were determined by using the Marshall’s Triangular Co-ordinates. The pH of the soil sample was determined with the help of a glass electrode pH meter. Organic C, total N, available P, K and S content of the soil sample was determined. Statistical analysis: The collected data on different parameters under study were compiled and subjected to statistical analysis. Analysis of variance was calculated following the experimental design with the help of the computer package MSTAT-C (Russell, 1986). The means differences were evaluated by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) and Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test.

Source of Information: The Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 5. Number 2, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The research concluded that zero tillage condition with water hyacinth and rice straw mulches was more efficient than other mulches and the control in respect of developmental and yield contributing attributes, which ensured the higher grain yield of QPM cv. Pozarica under the agro-climatic conditions of Bangladesh. In addition, zero tillage did not bring about a decrease in yield of QPM cv. Pozarica, rather it provided an advantage of low labour requirement and prevented crop lodging. Moreover, improved physiochemical properties of soil due indigenous mulching had added advantages on the follow-up crops. This practice with QPM may supplement nutritional deficiency of the malnourished people and a good source of poultry feed in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal