Influence of Tillage Depths and P-Fertilizer Application Rates on the Yields of Annual Cropped Winter-Grown Wheat

Stibbe, E.; Kafkafi, U.

Influence of Tillage Depths and P-Fertilizer Application Rates on the Yields of Annual Cropped Winter-Grown Wheat

1973

Stibbe, E. | Kafkafi, U.

Because of different climatical conditions during the growing season from those of reported experiments in literature and the relatively few data about annual cropped winter-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield response to depth of tillage and to incorporation of previously broadcasted P-fertilizer, a 2-year field trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of three tillage depths, 10, 20, and 40 cm; and three P-fertilizer rates on grain yields and dry matter production. The three P-fertilizer rates were: no P-fertilizer, 12 kg P/ha per 10 cm depth of tilled soil, and a flat 60 kg P/ha rate. The field trial had a randomized split plot design with four replications and was simultaneously conducted on two soils of different texture. Grain yields, dry matter production, and P-uptake over 2 years were not influenced by depths of tillage. Initial development of wheat plants was better on shallow tilled soil. Added P-fertilizer markedly increased grain yields, dry matter production, and P-uptake. P-fertilizer rates based on volume of tilled soil were as effective as the flat P-fertilizer rate. Dry matter production response to P-fertilizer was influenced by soil texture, indicating limiting P-availability with decreasing clay content of soil. From the data obtained it can be concluded that increasing depth of tillage has no significant effect on annual cropped winter-grown wheat yields and secondly that there is no need to incorporate P-fertilizer deeper than the top soil layer of 10 cm. Therefore, if plowing a wheat stubble becomes necessary, P-fertilizer rate can be based on the P-availability of the sampled top soil layer after plowing and adjusted to the depth of the planned seedbed preparation to keep P-availability at the recommended level for wheat growing.

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