Effects of traffic-induced tillage methods on soil properties and development of grain crops in southwestern Nigeria

摘要

A tillage experiment was conducted over three rainy seasons in a bi-modal rainfall area during 198990 with the objective of evaluating the effects of traffic-induced, no-tillage and discing on soil physical properties and crop growth of maize, cowpea and soybean. The values of soil dry bulk density, penetrometer resistance, saturated hydraulic conductivity and moisture content were higher under no-tillage than under discing. The percentage emergence and root growth were higher in no-tillage than in discing. No-tillage resulted in increasing grain yields over a successive period of cultivation whereas discing gave declining yields with time.