SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT, cilt.36, sa.2, ss.223-239, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, we compared the conventional and conservation tillage systems in terms of
their effects on plant emergence and stand establishment. The systems consisted of
conventional tillage with stubble burning (CT1), conventional tillage with stubble (CT2),
minimum tillage with stubble (MT), combination of minimum and no tillage (MNT) and notillage (NT). The tillage treatments were used for Balatilla domestic wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) and Pioneer Brand corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars under crop rotation. Mean
emergence day (MED), emergence rate index (ERI), percentage emergence (PE), multiple
index (MI), skip index (SI), quality of feed index (QFI), mean spacing between plants for
corn and plant density for wheat were evaluated for uniformity of plant emergence and
stand establishment. ERI and PE were significantly higher under CT and MT compared
with MNT and NT treatments in corn. Plant emergence in conventional tillage plots
occurred faster with over 95% emergence. Tillage treatments also affected SI, QFI and
mean plant spacing, but not MI. The best SI, QFI and plant spacing were recorded in the
CT and MT treatments. Uniformity of plant stand in the tilled plots, CT and MT were better
than that in no-tillage. No-till treatment had the poorest stand establishment. In wheat,
the highest plant density was obtained under CT and MT treatments. Based on the
average of 2 yr, the highest yield of wheat was obtained under CT and the lowest in NT.
Corn yield had similar results. The trend in yield for both crops also followed that of the
results for stand establishment and emergence parameters. The lower yield in no-till was
related to the weaker plant emergence and stand establishment. The comparable effect
of MT with CT suggests that MT can be an alternative tillage method for sustainable
agriculture.
In this study, we compared the conventional and conservation tillage systems in terms of
their effects on plant emergence and stand establishment. The systems consisted of
conventional tillage with stubble burning (CT1), conventional tillage with stubble (CT2),
minimum tillage with stubble (MT), combination of minimum and no tillage (MNT) and notillage (NT). The tillage treatments were used for Balatilla domestic wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) and Pioneer Brand corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars under crop rotation. Mean
emergence day (MED), emergence rate index (ERI), percentage emergence (PE), multiple
index (MI), skip index (SI), quality of feed index (QFI), mean spacing between plants for
corn and plant density for wheat were evaluated for uniformity of plant emergence and
stand establishment. ERI and PE were significantly higher under CT and MT compared
with MNT and NT treatments in corn. Plant emergence in conventional tillage plots
occurred faster with over 95% emergence. Tillage treatments also affected SI, QFI and
mean plant spacing, but not MI. The best SI, QFI and plant spacing were recorded in the
CT and MT treatments. Uniformity of plant stand in the tilled plots, CT and MT were better
than that in no-tillage. No-till treatment had the poorest stand establishment. In wheat,
the highest plant density was obtained under CT and MT treatments. Based on the
average of 2 yr, the highest yield of wheat was obtained under CT and the lowest in NT.
Corn yield had similar results. The trend in yield for both crops also followed that of the
results for stand establishment and emergence parameters. The lower yield in no-till was
related to the weaker plant emergence and stand establishment. The comparable effect
of MT with CT suggests that MT can be an alternative tillage method for sustainable
agriculture.