Abstract:
An experiment was conducted in the Demonstration Farm of the
College of Agricultural Studies, at Sudan University of Science &
Technology, to investigate the effect of different tillage treatments on
some physical and mechanical soil properties and production of maize
crop (Zea mays L.) (var 113) for the two seasons 2004/2005 – 2005/2006
respectively.
Conventional tillage, deep tillage with chisel plough, minimum
tillage with rotovator, and zero tillage were used in this experiment.
The experimental design used was the Complete Randomize Block
Design, six treatments with four replicates.
The results showed that using conventional tillage affect soil
physical and mechanical properties for the 10-15 cm depths where bulk
density decreases and moisture content increases. The productivity was
(8.3 – 7.7 ton/hect), and cost was (114.38 SDG).
Deep tillage treatment showed effects on soil physical and
mechanical properties for the 10 – 15 cm depths for moisture content. It
gave productivity (5.8 – 7.0 ton/hect) with costs (95.62 SDG).
Minimum tillage treatment gave considerable results in the top
layer for moisture content and bulk density. The productivity was (6.8
ton/hect) and costs were (59.82 SDG).
Zero tillage treatment made no effects on soil physical and
mechanical properties, but gave high germination percentage, with
productivity (5.5 – 6.0 ton/hect) and costs were (40.48 SDG) .
