ABSTRACT

Field experiments were carried out to study the effect of tillage method on soil organic matter on yield of maize under rain-fed conditions on a sandy loam soil of Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. The field was divided into four blocks, in which each block was assigned to four tillage treatments; ploughing alone (P) , harrowing alone, (H), ploghing and harrowing alone, (PH) and no-tillage (NT). The four tillage treatments were randomly distributed according to split plot arrangement with randomized complete block design. The rainfall and temperature data were collected from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike meteorological station. The result of these experiment were subjected to statistical analysis using the ANOV A Model. Soil moisture content was higher with a corresponding average values of23.4% in ploughing alone (P) and harrowing alone with least corresponding average values of 6.0% compared with other tillage treatment. Generally, for all the parameters determined from soil analysis except bulk density and porosity, was not significance at 0.05 level of confidence due to tillage treatments. Soil tilled two times (ploughing and harrowing alone, PH) produced significanty higher yield than other tillage treatment. Fresh and dry weights of maize were not significantly affected by different treatment combinations. In general, result shows that the tillage effect leads to an increase in soil fertility, free air circulation in the soil and moisture retention capacity for maize growth. Following these observation, disc ploughing alone is most recommended for Umudike soil following by disc harrowing alone.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract V

Table of content VI

List of table vu

List of figure viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of problem 2

1.3 Objectives 3

1.4 Scope and limitations 3

1.5 Justification 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Tillage systems: definition, concept and challenges.

2.2 Types of tillage system

2.2.1 Traditional tillage system.

2.2.2 Zero tillage system

2.2.3 Minimum tillage system

2.2.4 Conventional tillage system

2.2.5 Conservation tillage system.

2.3.0 Objectives of tillage

2.4.1 Soil properties

2.4.1.1 Some physical properties of soil

2.4.1.2 Bulle density.

2.4.1.3 Porosity

2.4.1.4 Soil moisture content

2.4.2 Some chemical properties of soil

2.4.2.1 Soil pH

2.4.2.2 Nitrogen

2.4.2.3 Organic carbon content

2.5.1 Maize as a crop

2.5.1.1 Origin and description

2.5.1.2 Varieties/ cultivars of maize

2.5.1.3 Pest of maize and its control

2.5.1.4 Disease of maize , symptoms and its control

2.5.1.5 Sowing

2.5.1.6 Weeding

2.5.1.7 Harvesting

2.5.1.8 The users.

2.5.1.9 Climatic and soil requirements.

2.5.1.10 Fertilizer or man urerin g requirement.

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and methods

3.1 Description of the project site.

3.2 Experimental design and tillage treatment

3.2.1 Field layout

3 .3 Soil sampling and preparation

3.4 Analytical procedure/ methods

3.5 Sample preparation for analysis

3.6.1 Physical properties determination

3.6.1.1 Particle size analysis by the hydrometer method

3.6.1.2 Bulle density

3.6.1.3 Porosity

3.6.1.4 Moisture content

3.6.2 Chemical properties detennina tion

3.6.2.1 Soil pH

3.6.2.2 Organic carbon content

3.6.2.3 Nitrogen content

3.7.1 Data collection of maize plant growth and yield parameters.

3.7.1.1 Seedling establishment

3.7.1.2 Plant Height

3.7.1.3 Stem girth

3.7.1.4 Number of leaves

3.7.1.5 Fresh weight

3.7.1.6 Dry weight

3.8.1 Treatments

3.8.1.1 Manure treatment

3.8.1.2 Planting

3.8.1.3 Weed control

3.8.1.4 Control of pest and diseases.

3.8.1.5 Harvesting

3.9.1 Rainfall and temperature data

3.9.2 Data analysis and interpretation.

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Result and Discussion

4.1 Some physical and chemical properties of the experimental plot

4.1.2 Bulk density

4.1.3 Porosity

4.1.4 Moisture content

4.1.5 Soil pH

4.1.6 Organic carbon content

4.1.7 Nitrogen content

4.2 Data collection of maize plant growth yield parameters

4.2.1 Seedlings establishment 42

4.2.2 Plant Height 43

4.2.3 Stem girth of maize plant 44

4.2.4 Number of leaves 45

4.2.5 Fresh weight of maize plant 45

4.2.6 Dry weight bases 46

4.3 Rainfall and temperature 47

4.4 General analysis. 48

CHAPTER FIVE

 5.0 Conclusion and Recommendation 70

5.1 Conclusion 70 :

5.2 Recommendation 71

References 72 ~

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1a : particle size distribution of the soil of the experiment plot. 37

Table 4.1b: Data obtained for particle size from RCBD 53

Table 4.1c: ANOV A table for particle size from RCBD 54

Table 4.2a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 38

grown under rain fed condition on bulk density (g/cm).

Table 4.2b: Data obtained for Bulle Density from RCBD 54

Table 4.2e: ANOV A table for Bulk Density from RCBD 55

Table 4.3a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 39

grown under rain-fed condition on porosity(%). 

Table 4.3b: Data Obtained for Porosity from RCBD 55

Table 4.3c: ANOV A table for Porosity from RCBD 56

Table 4.4a Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize field 40 4

grown under rain-fed condition on moisture content(%).

s Table 4.4b: Data Obtained for Moisture Content from RCBD 56 ' .

Table 4.4c: ANOV A table for Moisture Content from RCBD 57

Table 4.5a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 40

grown under rain-fed condition on soil pH(%).

Table 4.5b:

Table 4.5c:

Data Obtained for Soil pH from RCBD

ANOV A table for Soil pH from RCBD

Table 4.6a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 41

grown under rain-fed condition on organic carbon content(%).

Table 4.6b: Data Obtained Organic Carbon Content from RCBD 58

Table 4.6c: ANOV A table for Organic Carbon Content from RCBD 59

Table 4.7a: Effect of tillage on soil organic matter and maize yield grown 42

under rain-fed condition on nitrogen content(%).

Table 4.7b: Data Obtained for Nitrogen Content from RCBD 59

Table 4.7e: ANOVA table for Nitrogen Content from RCBD 69

Table 4.8a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 43

grown under rain fed condition with seedling establishment of

maize.

Table 4.8b: Data Obtained for Seedlings Establishment from RCBD

Table 4.8c: ANOV A table for Seedling Establishment from RCBD

Table 4.9a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 43

grown under rain-fed condition with plant height (cm)

at 2, 6, 10, 14

Table 4.9b: Data Obtained for Plant Height from RCBD

Table 4.9c: ANOV A table for Plant Height from RCBD

Table 4.10a Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield

grown under rain-fed condition with stem girth (cm) of maize plant at 2, 6,

10, 14 WAP

Table 4.10b: Data Obtained for Stem Girth from RCBD

Table 4.10c: ANOVA table for Stem Girth from RCBD

I

Table 4.11a: Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize 45

yield grown under rain-fed condition with maize number of

leaves (cm) at 2, 6,10, 14 W AP

Table 4.11b: Data Obtained for Number of Leaves from RCBD 63

Table 4.11c: ANOV A table for Number of Leaves from RCBD 64

Table 4.12a:Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 46

f grown under rain-fed condition with fresh weight of maize

; .. (g/plant) at 2, 6, 10, 14 W AP .

j

s'

Data Obtained for Fresh Weight from RCBD 64 J Table 4.12b:

! Table 4.12c: ANOV A table for Fresh Weigh from RCBD 65 ~

{

.A

 Table 4.13a :Effect of tillage method on soil organic matter and maize yield 47

grown under rain fed condition with dry weight of maize

(g/plant) .

Table 4.13b: Data Obtained for Dry Weight from RCBD 65 l

I Table 4.13c: ANOV A table for Dry from RCBD 66

TABLE 4.14: Umudike weather data collection on temperature ('c) 66

~ TABLE 4.15 Umudike weather data collection on rainfall {mm) (2010) 68

X11

I

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Figure showing the experimental field layout with a

randomize complete block design. (RCBD)

Figure 2: Picture showing measurement of maize plant height.

; Figure 3: Picture showing measurement of stem girth of girth plant.

;

4

~ Figure 4: Showing maize obtained from plot of plouging alone.

s

.J

!

l Figure 4: Picture showing maize obtained from plot of ploughing

1 alone. i

5

1

1 Figure S: Picture showing maize obtained from plot of ploughing and '

h harrowing alone. 4

Figure 6: Picture showing maize obtained from plot of plot of

harrowing alone.

Figure 7: Picture showing maize obtained fro plot no-tillage.