Effect of land preparation on soil physical characteristics, germination and yield of cassava
1994
Wichit Silpamaneephan
Cassava growth and yield depend on the chemical as well as physical properties of the soil. The physical properties are determined by the inherent characteristics of the soil, but are also affected by tillage practices. This study was conducted to determine the effect of various land preparation techniques on cassava germination and yield in addition to its effect on soil physical characteristics. Cassava (Rayong 1) was planted in the early rainy season of 1991 in Sri Racha, Chonburi province and was harvested at 5, 7.5, 10 and 11 months. Six treatments consisted of: (1) no-tillage; (2) plowing; (3) plowing and harrowing; (4) plowing and harrowing followed by soil compaction; (5) plowing and harrowing followed by ridging; and (6) subsoiling. There were three replications. No differences in germination percentage due to treatments were observed. But there were significant differences in top weight and root weight between the soil compaction and various other treatments, because of excessively high bulk density, high penetrometer resistance, low water infiltration rate and low hydraulic conductivity of the compacted soil at all (3, 6, 9 and 12 months) times of measurement, both at 10 and 30 cm depth. However, for this soil with loamy sand texture, the various tillage treatments had no significant effect on cassava root yield as compared with the no-tillage treatment due to their similar effects on soil physical properties. Soil compaction was the only treatment which significantly affected both the various soil physical characteristics as well as all cassava growth parameters.
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