Ploughing depth and weed control treatment effects on maize performance and soil properties
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Date
2010-08-14
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Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of ploughing depth and weed control treatments on obaatanpa maize (Zea mays, L.) performance and soil properties during the 2009 major crop growing season in Kumasi, Ghana. The disc–ploughing depth treatments consisted of 0cm (No–tillage), 10–15cm, 15–20cm and 20–25cm. The weed control treatments included weed control with a hand hoe, cutlass, weed wiper, knapsack sprayer, and no weed control. The experiment was a factorial arranged in a randomised complete block design replicated three times. Overall, the highest seedling emergence was obtained from the 20–25cm ploughing depth plots while the lowest seedling emergence was found in the No–tillage plots. Ploughing depth treatments significantly influenced maize growth and dry matter yield. Ten weeks after planting, ploughing at the 20–25cm depth produced the biggest stem girth (57.53mm), longest root length (46.34cm) and highest dry matter yield
(8155kg ha-1). The tallest plant height (180.50cm) and the highest number of leaves (17.71)
were recorded in the 15–20cm and the 10–15cm ploughing depth plots respectively. The No– tillage treatment gave the shortest plant height (104.98cm), smallest stem girth (36.49mm), lowest number of leaves (14.87), and lowest dry matter yield (2573kg ha-1). In general, plant height, stem girth, and number of leaves between the 10–15cm, 15–20cm and 20–25cm ploughing depth treatments were statistically similar. Generally, weed control did not have statistical significant effect on maize performance and soil properties. There were no significant interaction effects of ploughing depth and weed control treatments on maize performance and soil properties. There is the need to determine the long–term effects of ploughing depth and weed control treatments on maize performance and soil properties.
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A Thesis submitted to the Department of Agricultural Engineering Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy.