Abstract
Seedling emergence and seedling establishment are twoimportant phases for the good crop stand and final maize crop harvest. A fieldstudy was conducted to explore the effects of different tillage practices andpoultry manure levels on the seedling emergence, growth, development, yield,and economics of the spring planted maize during 2010 and 2011. Experimentaltreatments include four tillage treatments (zero, minimum, conventional anddeep tillage) and three poultry manure amendments (control (no manure), 5 Mg·ha-1 and 10 Mg·ha-1). Seedling emergence was linearly affected as thetillage intensity was increased. Significant relationship of tillage with leafarea index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate andtotal dry matter was recorded during the both years. Poultry manure at the rateof 10 Mg·ha-1 produced the higher leaf area index, leaf areaduration, crop growth rate, total dry matter and grain yield as compared to 5 Mg·ha-1 and control. Moreover, experimental results concluded that the deep tillagepractice has taken less time to start emergence. Similarly, higher values trendof leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, total dry matteraccumulation and grain yield was shifted from deep tillage to conventional, minimumand zero tillage practices during both years. Economically, the minimum tillagewith poultry manure at rate of 10 Mg·ha-1 gave the better benefit tocost ratio and crop productivity as compared to conventional, deep and zerotillage. The experiment suggested the minimum tillage with poultry manure atthe rate of 10 Mg·ha-1 may ensure the maize grain yieldsustainability.
Highlights
In Pakistan, maize ranks 3rd cereal crop after wheat and rice with an estimated area of 1083 thousand hectares having an annual production of 4271 thousand tones [1]
Higher number of days was taken by zero tillage sown crop treated with higher dose of poultry manure to emerge from the soil surface as shown in Figures 1(a) and (b)
Maximum number of days was taken in zero tillage treatment (8.5 & 9.8) to emergence from the soil surface (Figures 1(a) and (b)) during 2010 and 2011, respectively
Summary
In Pakistan, maize ranks 3rd cereal crop after wheat and rice with an estimated area of 1083 thousand hectares having an annual production of 4271 thousand tones [1]. Higher biological and grain yield, improved root growth and highest average plant height were noted in the conventional tillage over no tillage [4] [5]. Increased crop growth rate and soya yield from deep tillage are ascribed to deeper roots penetration which resulted in easy access to water, minerals and nutrients to the plants during the dry season [7]. The combine use of the poultry manure and the N sources increase the crop grain yield, water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency which shows the synergetic relationship between the organic matter and the N fertilizers [8]. Poultry manure treatments produced higher values for maize plant height, leaf area index and biomass. The present study is planned to explore the influence of tillage practices and different poultry manure levels on the maize seedling emergence and growth with special reference to economic of maize during spring season in the subtropical conditions of Faisalabad, Pakistan
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