Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, Vol 83, No 4 (2018)

The Effect of Tillage on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Yield of Ginger

Taiwo Michael AGBEDE, Aruna Olasekan ADEKIYA

Pages: 315-320

Summary


Five tillage methods were compared during the seasons of 2014–2016 with reference to their effects on soil physical and chemical properties and fresh rhizome yield of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on an Alfisol at Owo, southwest Nigeria. The tillage methods were: zero tillage (ZT), manual ridging (MR), manual mounding (MM), ploughing plus harrowing (P + H) and ploughing plus harrowing twice (P + 2H). P + 2H had higher soil bulk density than other tillage methods and resulted in lower soil OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg and rhizome yield of ginger. ZT improved soil bulk density, moisture content, temperature, soil OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg better than other tillage methods and resulted in higher plant height and rhizome yield of ginger compared with other tillage treatments. Results of multiple regressions revealed that bulk density and moisture content significantly influenced the yield of ginger. Compared with MR, MM, P + H and P + 2H, and averaged across years, ZT increased rhizome yield of ginger by 10.9, 11.5, 4.9 and 26.8%, respectively. P + 2H degraded soil quality and reduced rhizome yield of ginger significantly. ZT was found to be the most suitable for soil health and optimum yield and is therefore recommended for ginger cultivation.


Keywords


tillage; soil properties; ginger; bulk density; moisture content

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