Effect of conservation tillage and planting methods on the soil properties and irrigated wheat yield in a cold climate condition

Subject Areas : Journal of Plant Ecophysiology

S. Afzali Nia ¹ (Fars Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources)
S. M. Hosaini ² (Fars Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources)
Komail Mollaei ³ (Eghlid Azad University)
S. Shajari ⁴ (Fars Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources)

Received: 2015-01-23 Accepted : 2015-04-06 Published : 2016-06-01

Keywords: Wheat, Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Zero Tillage, Soil properties,

Abstract :

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage and planting methods on some soil properties, economic benefits, crop yield, and yield components in the irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum) production. The research was performed in the form of a randomized complete block experimental design with five treatments and three replications in the permanent plots in Eghlid area for two years. Treatments were conventional tillage (moldboard plow, disk harrow, and land leveler) and seed broadcasting, direct planting by Sfoggia direct seeder, reduced tillage and planting with roto-seeder, direct planting by Jairan Sanaat direct seeder, and conventional tillage and planting with Machine Barzegar grain drill. Measured parameters were soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, fuel consumption, irrigated wheat (Alvand variety) yield, and yield components. Results showed that there was no significant difference (p<0.5) between the treatments for soil bulk density, soil organic carbon content, wheat yield, and yield components. Direct seeding treatments reduced the fuel consumption for at least 38%, and direct planting using Jairan Sanaat direct seeder with the highest benefit to cost ratio (0.95) was the best economic treatment. Since conservation tillage and planting methods save fuel and have no negative effect on wheat yield and yield components, they would be recommended for the region.