Influence of different tillage practices and earthworm on selected soil physio-chemical parameters and yield of maize

摘要

study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different tillage practices and earthworm (Peretima hawayana) on soil water content, bulk density and organic carbon contents, and yield and yield parameters of maize. The experiment was conducted at Koont Research Farm, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, during 2010. The treatments were No-till (NT), No-till + earthworms (NTE), Reduced tillage (RT) and Conventional tillage (CT) with three replication in RCBD. NTE had the highest bulk density (1.42 g cm-3) and maximum soil organic carbon (11.61Mg C ha-1) followed by NT, reduced tillage and conventional tillage. The CT had 32% less nitrate nitrogen than NT at 0-15 cm soil depth. Similar result was noted in case of 15-30 cm depth.NTE had more available phosphorus than CT and RT at 0-15 cm depth. Number of grains cob-1 (336) and grain yield (3.6 tha-1) were the highest in CT while the lowest number of grains cob-1 (259) and grain yield (2.57 t ha-1) were recorded in NT. Likewise CT had more1000 grain weight (33%), biological (28%) and economical yield (23%) as compared to NT. The higher grain yield (3.6 t ha-1) was obtained in CT and RT (3.35 t ha-1), than NTE (2.92 t ha-1) and NT (2.57 t ha-1). The cost benefit ratio was more in CT (3.57) than NT (2.85). NTE had positive effects on soil and crop, however long term studies are needed to evaluate the effects of tillage on soil quality and crop production.