Seasonal variability of maize yield on a compacted sandy loam soil in a tropical environment

Hilkiah Igoni, Asinyetogha; Jumbo, Raphael Butler; Davis, Davidson Dimabo

Abstract

The effect of weather changes on the yield of maize on a compacted sandy loam soil was investigated. The experiment was conducted in the teaching /research farm of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The research started during the wet (rainy) season in October, through the dry season in February. Five experimental field plots were used in the study. The plots were subjected to different levels of compaction by routine tillage operations and wheel traffic, using a Massey Ferguson (MF) 260 tractor and an MF90 disc plough, before the maize seeds were planted. Field data of crop emergence, growth rate and crop yield were taken at regular intervals within the different seasons. Analysis of the results showed an inverse-proportional relationship between maize yield and compaction during the wet season and a direct-proportional relationship during the dry season up to a certain optimal compaction level, when a shift was noticed. It was, therefore, found that different optimum levels of compaction for increased maize yield exist for the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Furthermore, the compacted soil within the optimum limit had better yield during the dry season. On the whole, although the fields with lower bulk densities performed better at the beginning of the study, they were out-performed by those of higher bulk densities by the end of the experiment. Thus, while the plots of bulk densities of 1.17 and 1.23 g/mm 3 had better yield during the wet season, they were out-performed by the plots of bulk densities of 1.28 and 1.35 g/mm 3 during the dry season.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 24, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 11, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 11, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 16, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-8
• Keywords: Maize Yield; Seasonal Variability; Soil Compaction; Sandy-Loam; Tillage
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11997311
• Publisher URL: http://www.aascit.org/journal/ijabe