Studies on the effects of tillage, land layout and fertilizer level on wet season crop production in Trinidad and Tobago
1988
Gumbs, F.A. | Lindsay, J.I. | Tumuhairwe, J. | Osei-Yeboah, S. (West Indies Univ., St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago). Fac. of Agric.)
4 field trials involving cowpea, maize, cabbage and sweet potato are reported. In experiment 1, repeated over 2 wet seasons on Cunupia soil type, the effect of 3 tillage systems (disc ploughing, harrowing and rototilling) and 2 land layouts (ridge and furrow and flat beds, 5 m wide) on cowpea and maize yields were investigated. In both cowpea and maize, tillage and land layout systems did not significantly affect crop yield. The cheapest and most convenient tillage practices should be used. Under severe flooding, ridge and furrow is preferred to flat bed. In the second study, the effect of zero, minimum and conventional tillage practices on maize yield was examined over 2 rainy seasons. Ear fresh weight yields from the conventionally tilled treatments were significantly higher than yields from the reduced tillage plots during both trials. In study 3, the yield of cabbage grown on 4 bed layout systems on St. Augustine loam soil, with and without bagasse mulch (4 cm thick) were compared. Bed type influenced the earliness of heading and time to maturity. Drainage was also affected by bed type. In trial 4, the effect of the tillage system and different levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on sweet potato growth and yield were examined. The use of 200 kg N/ha significantly increased fresh and dry weights of sweet potato stems and leaves on the non-tilled plots. Tillage significantly increased tuber yields. High levels of nitrogen tended to depress tuber yields under the no-tillage system and significantly increased tuber yield under the tillage system
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