Impact of Zero Tillage and Tillage Practice in Chickpea Production

Md Abdul Quddus,Md Alamgir Siddiky,Habib Mahammad Naser,A T M Anwarul Islam Mondol,Md Anarul Islam,Md Razzab Ali

doi:10.5539/jas.v12n4p106

Abstract

The study was carried out at the field of Regional Pulses Research Station, Madaripur under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) during Rabi season (winter) to evaluate the effect of different tillage practices on growth, yield attributes, nutrient uptake and yield of chickpea, and to compare between the zero tillage and tillage practice.The experiment was planned with five different tillage practices viz. Zero tillage (T1), Single tillage (T2), Two tillage (T3), Three tillage (T4) and Four tillage (T5), and it was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Blanket dose of fertilizers of N, P, K, S, Zn and B at 20, 21, 30, 10, 3 and 1.5 kg ha-1, respectively were used in all tillage treatments. The highest mean seed yield achieved (1395 kg ha-1) in zero tillage (T1) followed by four tillage (T5) practice. The maximum number of branches plant-1 and more number of pods plant-1 was recorded in zero tillage treatment. Nutrient content showed non-significant effect across most of the treatment. The highest nodulation and nutrient (N, P, K and S) uptake was also obtained from T1 treatment. Tillage practices exhibited positive effects on soil properties. The highest soil organic carbon, total N, available P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Zn and B were found in zero tillage (T1). Based on profitability, the zero tillage was economically viable with compared to tillage practice. Although this practice (T1) saves the money about 3.8% to 13.7% and time also saves minimum 8 days for succeeding crops. So, the present study suggests that zero tillage practice could be implemented in the high and medium high land for chickpea cultivation. Low income farmers may practice the zero tillage technology. Future research should be carried out to evaluate the suitable rate of nutrient in zero tillage (conservative tillage) practice for yield maximization of chickpea and sustaining soil fertility.

Highlights

The agriculture has currently been faceing enormous challenges including soil erosion which significantly reduces the yield of crops
The mean number of pods per plant was varied among the treatments from 49.9 to 56.9, while the highest pods per plant was attained in zero tillage (T1) and lowest was in single tillage (T2) (Table 3)
Results reveal that the highest seed yield of chickpea (1395 kg ha-1) has been achieved in zero tillage followed by the practice of four tillages (T5)

Summary

Introduction

The agriculture has currently been faceing enormous challenges including soil erosion which significantly reduces the yield of crops. The soil erosion by wind and related dust emission can cause substantial nutrient loss and may lead to soil degradation of fertile lands (Katra, 2020). Tillage activities can significantly accelerate wind erosion and soil loss compared with uncultivated soils or zero tillage (Sharratt et al, 2010; Singh et al, 2012). Conservation agriculture (CA) techniques involve zero tillage which reduces the negative environmental effects of agriculture such as soil erosion and degradation of physical properties of soil leading to decrease crop productivity (Monneveux et al, 2006)

Methods

Results

Conclusion