Original scientific paper
The Effect of Tillage on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Yield of Ginger
Taiwo Michael Agbede
orcid.org/ORCID
; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, P.M.B. 1019, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Aruna Olasekan Adekiya
orcid.org/ORCID
; College of Agricultural Sciences, Landmark University, P.M.B. 1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria
Abstract
Five tillage methods were compared during the seasons of 2014–2016 with reference to their effects on soil physical and chemical properties and fresh rhizome yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on an Alfisol at Owo, southwest Nigeria. The tillage methods were: zero tillage (ZT), manual ridging (MR), manual mounding (MM), ploughing plus harrowing (P + H) and ploughing plus harrowing twice (P + 2H). P + 2H had higher soil bulk density than other tillage methods and resulted in lower soil OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg and rhizome yield of ginger. ZT improved soil bulk density, moisture content, temperature, soil OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg better than other tillage methods and resulted in higher plant height and rhizome yield of ginger compared with other tillage treatments. Results of multiple regressions revealed that bulk density and moisture content significantly influenced the yield of ginger. Compared with MR, MM, P + H and P + 2H, and averaged across years, ZT increased rhizome yield of ginger by 10.9, 11.5, 4.9 and 26.8%, respectively. P + 2H degraded soil quality and reduced rhizome yield of ginger significantly. ZT was found to be the most suitable for soil health and optimum yield and is therefore recommended for ginger cultivation.
Keywords
tillage; soil properties; ginger; bulk density; moisture content
Hrčak ID:
207931
URI
Publication date:
9.11.2018.
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