Influence of Tillage Systems on Soil Physical Properties
Asim Osman Elzubeir *
Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Dongola, Dongola, Sudan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted during two summer seasons (2005/06 and 2006/07) under Dongola area conditions (Northern State- Sudan) to investigate the effect of three tillage practices (disc ploughing (20 cm depth) followed by disc harrowing and levelling, chisel ploughing (30 cm depth) followed by disc harrowing and levelling, and no tillage) on the soil physical properties in the area. The soil of the experimental site was classified as loamy. The results obtained revealed that tillage practices induced significant variations (P = .01) on soil dry bulk density at soil depth of 0-25 cm. Also, tillage practices had highly significant effects (P=.01) on water content of soil at the different soil depths checked in the both seasons. Tillage practices had no significant difference (P=.05) on soil mechanical resistance to penetration at depth of 0-50 cm. Disc ploughing is more superior to other treatments examined referenced to those physical parameters of the soil
Keywords: Soil dry bulk density, water content of soil, soil resistance to penetration, Dongola (Northern State-Sudan)