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Effect of Tillage Practices and Cropping Systems on Soil Physical Properties and Crop Productivity

M.K. Alam
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

N.C. Shil
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

A.T.M.A.I. Mondal
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

M.J. Alam
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

R.A. Begum
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Three types of tillage practices (ZT: zero tillage, CT: conventional tillage by power tiller and DT: deep tillage by chisel plough) andfour different cropping systems (W-F-F: Wheat-Fallow-Fallow, W-F- T: Wheat-Fallow-T. Aman, W-M-T: Wheat-Mungbean-T. Aman and W-D-T: Wheat-Dhaincha-T. Aman) were tested in a split-plot design with three replications where tillage practices were assigned in the main plot and cropping systems in the sub-plot. The objectives of the experiment were to study the effect of tillage practices and cropping systems on the productivity of component crops and on soil physical and chemical properties. The effects of tillage depths and cropping systems on the yield of rice were found similar to the effects of them on wheat. The highest grain yield of rice (5.14 t ha^-1) was found in DT under W-M-T cropping system. Soil physical properties like bulk density, field capacity and available water content were positively influenced by cropping systems alone and interaction of tillage depths and cropping systems. With four years passage of experimentation, soil organic matter build-up resulting from minimum disturbance of soil under W-M-T as well as W-D-T cropping systems helped conserve moisture in the soil profile and improved other soil physical properties. Incorporation of leguminous crop transforms the soil physical and chemical properties into favourable conditions in performing higher yield of the component crops in the crop rotation systems. Accordingly, the yield gaps which were recorded high in the beginning were narrowed down after four years of experimentation. These results demonstrate that a green manure crop in a rice- wheat system showed potentiality to increase SOM content in soil with concomitant increase in yields under conservation tillage practices.

Keywords: Tillage, Cropping system, Productivity, Soil physical and chemical properties

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2014

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Non-commodity: Cropping pattern

Objectives:

To identify the appropriate tillage practice(s) and cropping system(s) for increasing productivity of wheat and rice and improving soil physical and chemical properties.

Methodology:

A series of experiment were conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014. The study area represents Modhupur Tract (Agro- ecological Zone -28), which belongs to the Chhiata series of the Grey Terrace Soils (Aeric Albaquept) under the order Inceptisol. The textural class is clay loam having initial soil pH of 5.7 and the land type is medium high. The climate of the experimental area is sub-tropical, wet and humid. Heavy rainfall occurs in the monsoon and scanty in the other times. Twelve treatment combinations comprising three tillage practices (ZT: zero tillage, CT: conventional tillage by power tiller and DT: deep tillage by chisel plough) four different cropping systems (W-F-F: Wheat-Fallow-Fallow, W-F-T: Wheat-Fallow-T. Aman, W-M-T: Wheat-Mungbean-T. Aman and W-D-T: Wheat-Dhaincha-T. Aman) were examined in a split plot design with three replications. In zero tillage seeds were placed just by making furrow with a hand rake. The tillage depth up to 10-12 cm was maintained by a power tiller, whereas the tillage depth up to 20-25 cm was maintained by a chisel plough. The seeds of wheat of all patterns were sown on November 24, 2012 and 21 November, 2013. The seeds of mungbean and dhaincha were sown in the fourth week of March 2013 and 18 March 2014. Forty-day old seedlings of T. Aman rice (BRRI dhan32) were transplanted in the second week of July 2013 at 25 cm apart from rows maintaining 15 cm hill to hill distance and 3 seedlings per hill. Necessary gap filling was done 8 days after transplanting. Targeting a high yield goal of the crops in the cropping patterns the rates of chemical fertilizer for each component crop were calculated based on soil test results using the FRG. Weeding was done as and when necessary but no insecticides and pesticides were required to use, since the crops were free from insects and pathogen attack. The wheat was harvested in March 6, 2013. The mungbean plucking was started in the first week of June 2012 and continued up to the third week of June 2012: Then the remaining biomass of mungbean was incorporated in the soil. The total biomass of dhaineha was incorporated in the soil in the fourth week of June. Rice crop was harvested in the fourth week of October 2012 at full maturity. For data collection of wheat and rice, five hills from each plot were sampled randomly. Threshing, cleaning, and drying of grain were done separately plot wise. The weights of grain and straw were recorded plot wise.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report 2013-2014, Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, pp: 10-18, September-2014.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Conservation tillage (ZT and CT) under wheat-dhaincha-T.aman and Wheat-Mungbean-T. Aman cropping patterns appeared as promising in conserving moisture in the soil profile and improving other soil physical properties showing statistically similar results with deep tillage. Soil organic matter content increased with conservation tillage and practicing rotating crops. Incorporation of leguminous crops in between rabi and kharif-ll season transform the soil physical and chemical properties into favourable conditions in achieving higher yield of the component crops under the crop rotation systems. Release of essential nutrients from recycled residue, contribute to minimize the yield gap between deep tillage and minimum tillage. System productivity, economic benefit and changes in soil properties would be available with recommendations after completion of the fifth cropping cycles at the end of this year.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings