Modification of tillage implements for alley cropping system

This study consisted of modifying tillage implements (primary and secondary) to suit the conditions of alley cropping system, and comparing them with the conventional ones. The features and specifications of the modified tillage implements were explained. Then, the modified tillage system (chisel ploughing + tandem disc harrowing) was compared with the traditional tillage system (3-bottom disc ploughing + offset disc harrowing). The experiment was carried out at the Gezira Research Station in an alley cropping field for two seasons (2007/08 and 200911 0). The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. Wheat (Varity Debiera) was sown at the seed the rate of 143 kg/ha as recommended. A bed planting seed drill with three rows on 80 cm bed was used. The fertilizer (urea) was applied at the rate of 190 kg/ha. The crop was sown on 23rd of November in the first season (2007/08) and 25thof December in the second season (2009/ 10). The evaluation covered the tractor and implement performance, maximum utilization of the available alley land, superficial root pruned length, soil clod size distribution, infiltration rate, soil bulk density and its corresponding soil moisture content, in addition to yield and yield components. Except for the tractor drawbar power, the modified chisel plough resulted in significantly (P = 0.05) lower tractor actual speed, significantly (P = 0.05) higher wheel slippage, highly significant (P = 0.01) higher theoretical and effective field capacity and highly significant (P = 0.0 1) higher draught requirements, in comparison with the 3-bottom disc plough. For the secondary operations, no significant differences were detected between the modified tandem disc harrow and the offset disc harrow, except for the tractor actual speed, where the offset disc harrow resulted in significantly (P =0.05) higher tractor actual speed. Moreover, harrow, except for the tractor acual speed, where the offset disc harrow resulted in significantly (P =0.05) higher tractor acual speed. Moreover, the modified tandem disc harrow gave significantly (0.05) higher draught requirement