Effect of Conservative Tillage on Physical Properties of Soil in Irrigated Wheat Production

Abstract

   In order to compare conservation tillage treatments on physical properties of soil, a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was conducted in the fild of Agricultural Research ,Education and Extension Center of Markazi Province if Iran, during the 2 cropping seasons (2012 and 2013). The treatments were: 1) Moldboard plow + disc (conventional method), 2) Chisel packer, 3) Combined Tillage Tools, and 4) Direct seeding. In both cropping seasons, the tillage operations were carried out based on the experimental treatments in a plot containing fodder corn plant residues (var. SC-704). The physical properties of soil included soil bulk density, soil permeability (infiltration), mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates, and soil mechanical strength.  Finally, the weight of grain dry matter and 1000-grain weight were measured. Results showed that the tillage method had no significant effect on wheat yield at the 5% level. The water infiltration rate for the conventional, chisel packer, combined plow, and direct seeding was 6.8, 8.9, 8.2, and 12.1 mm/h.