Effect of Soil Management Practices on Agronomic, Economic and Soil Thermal Attributes of Clay Loam Soil on Maize Grown in Tropical Conditions of Pakistan
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Changing climatic conditions accelerate the soil biological systems and imbalance the soil nutrients cycle threatening the food security in developing countries. In this scenario, different soil management practices may help to mitigate the adverse effects of global warming on soils and crops. The aim of the conducted investigation was to ascertain the impacts of increasing temperature on the agronomic, soil and economic attributes of spring maize in the subtropical conditions of Pakistan. To understand this effect, two-year field study (2010 and 2011) was carried out at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan using randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements having three replications. Tillage practices (zero tillage, minimum tillage, Conventional tillage and Deep tillage) were kept in the main plot while the mulch treatments (No mulch, black plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and grass mulch) were applied on the soil in the subplots. Different agronomic, economic and soil thermal parameters were studied. The agronomic indices were improved significantly in increasing order of tillage while the economic figures gave the maximum benefit to cost ratio in minimum tillage with black plastic mulches. Moreover, soil thermal temperature fluctuation was observed in intensive tillage as compared to other no tillage systems. Artificial mulches gave the better results towards agronomic and economic attributes over the natural mulches and no mulch treatments. This study suggests that minimum tillage with black plastic could be feasible in increasing the farmer income per unit area in the decreasing farmer’s resources over increasing weather uncertainty.
Source: Transylvanian Review
Institution: COMSATS University Islamabad
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2527838130