Influence of Tillage Practices on Physicochemical Properties of Cultivated Soil for Cassava

• O.A. Adetola

  Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• O.J. Olukunle

  Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• S.F. Agele

  Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

This study determined the influence of tillage practices on physicochemical properties of soil. Eight tillage methods used for the experiment were Ploughing + Harrowing, Ploughing + Harrowing + ridging, Manual Ridging, Flat Manual Clearing, Ploughing + Harrowing + Manual digging + Saw-dust placed at the base, Ploughing + Harrowing + ridging + Saw-dust placed at the base, Manual Ridging + Saw-dust and Manual Digging + Saw-dust placed. The physicochemical properties of the soil examined include pH, Phosphorus, Carbon, Nitrogen, Exchange Acidity, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Iron, Copper, Zinc, percentage clay, silt and sand were determined. Three soil samples from three different points within the treatment were obtained for each of the eight tillage practices using auger. The results revealed that the highest value of 6.80 of pH, 7.33 m/kg of Phosphorus, 32.76 g/kg of Carbon, 3.36 g/kg of Nitrogen, 1.00 Exchange Acidity, 3.43 cmol/kg of Calcium, 0.98 cmol/kg of Magnesium, 1.02 cmol/kg of Potassium, 0.40 cmol/kg of Sodium, 543.00 mg/kg of Iron, 13.70 mg/kg of Copper, 0.68 mg/kg of Zinc, 220 g/kg of clay, 234.00 g/kg of silt and 766.00 g/kg of sand occurred in conventional tillage practice while the highest value of 777.00 mg/kg of Manganese was recorded in zero tillage system. There were differences also in the soil texture of for all the tillage practices. This study revealed that tillage practices had significant effect on physicochemical properties of cassava cultivated soil which will be useful in determining the appropriate tillage practice to be adopted for a particular crop.

1. O.A. Adetola, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

2. O.J. Olukunle, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

3. S.F. Agele, Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704 Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

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