Abstract
The effects of deep tillage on soil properties and crop yields under rainfed agriculture were evaluated on a shallow calcareous sandy loam (Ustochrept) in Bhilwara region in Western India. Disc and chisel ploughing (deep tillage, 25 to 40 cm) were compared with conventional, minimum and zero tillage (shallow tillage, 0 to 12.5 cm) under rainfed agriculture for two consecutive years, 1989 and 1990. Deep tillage operations were superior to shallow tillage treatments. Disc and chisel ploughing significantly reduced the bulk density and increased soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity and equilibrium infiltration rate. The average value of these parameters in the top 15 cm of soil for minimum tillage compared with deep tillage were 1.41 and 1.37 Mg m −3, 46.9 and 47.71 m 3 100 m −3, 1.51 and 1.78 cm h −1 and 9.1 and 14.39 cm h −1, respectively. These improvements have enhanced the profile soil moisture content. Over two years, the pooled differences in profile soil moisture content between deep tillage and zero tillage treatments were 0.74 cm at sowing and 1.09 cm at harvest. Yields of sorghum, green gram and sorghum equivalent under the intercropping system were significantly increased as a result of deep tillage by 12.4, 15.3 and 12.5%, respectively.
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