Effects zero tillage on cassava (Manihot esculentsa crantz) in Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstract

A field study was conducted on a sandy clay loamy soil (Alfisol) at Owo, Southwest Nigeria to evaluate the effects of four tillage methods on soil physical and chemical properties and cassava performance. Tillage treatments were: zero tillage, Conventional tillage, manual mounding and manual ridging. Zero tillage had significantly higher soil bulk density and low total porosity than other tillage treatments at the 0-10cm soil layer. Soil moisture contents given by zero-tillage/manual mounding ridging were significantly higher (p=0.05) than that of conventional- tillage. Soil fertility status as indicated by organic C, total N, available P, and Exchangeable K, Ca and Mg contents, declined in the tilled plots compared with zero tillage. The conventional tillage gave least values of soil chemical properties. Tillage produced on significant effect on the biomass and tuber yields of cassava in the first and second years. It was apparent that no tillage did not reduce the total biomass yields of cassava. Zero tillage system is suitable for cassava production.

Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 81-86