Effects of Tillage Practices on Soil Properties under Maize Cultivation on Oxic Paleustalf in South Western Nigeria
- 1 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
- 2 Institute of Agric Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Apata, Ibadan
- 3 Department of Crop Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the effect of tillage practices on soil properties under maize cultivation in savanna ecosystem of South Western Nigeria. The tillage systems evaluated were zero, convectional and traditional tillage sys tems . The results showed that there is a significant difference in soil parameters and crop morphologies at p < 0.05 among the tillage systems. The traditional tillage system resulted to the most favorable soil environment , for crop growth and best performance of crop followed by conventional and no-tillage system in the area are studied respectively. The significant difference in yields adduced to lower bulk density, higher wat er holding capacity and porosity which increased plant root proliferation and optimal utilization of soil nutrients under tilled methods. Hence tillage methods have the capability to increase production while no-tillage is better under long term productio n for sustainable land use.
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