IMPACT OF TILLAGE PRACTICE ON SOIL PROPERTIES

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of tillage practices on soil properties under maize cultivation in savanna ecosystem of South eastern Nigeria. The tillage systems evaluated were zero, convectional and traditional tillage systems. The traditional tillage system resulted to the most favorable soil environment, for crop growth and best performance of crop followed by conventional and no-tillage system in the area are studied respectively. The significant difference in yields adduced to lower bulk density, higher water holding capacity and porosity which increased plant root proliferation and optimal utilization of soil nutrients under tilled methods. Hence tillage methods have the capability to increase production while no-tillage is better under long term production for sustainable land use

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The ever-increasing population scenario of Nigeria makes it a necessity for more land to be opened up and efficiently managed for increased food production. The Nigerian traditional tillage method involves the use of hoes to make mounds size of which depends on the crop to be grown on. This method is gradually being replaced by conventional method of plough and harrow. Considering the fragile nature of Nigeria savannah soils, this method has further impoverished the soils due to erosion, increased loss of soil moisture by evaporation and compaction. Tillage, this is a terminology that is applied to the creation of enabling environment for the germination and growth of crops. Technically tillage refers to the mechanical stirring of soil to provide a suitable soil environment for growth of crops. Ashaye affirmed that the productivity of any soil depends on the way and how it is managed through cultivation practices imposed on it. Appropriate tillage practices are those that avoid the degradation of soil properties but maintain crop yields as well as ecosystem stability. In recent years, the interest in conservation tillage systems has increased in response to the need to limit erosion and promote water conservation. This has been considered to provide the best opportunity for halting degradation and for restoring and improving soil productivity. Conservation tillage is being adopted by local farmers in order to protect the soils from adverse effects of climate. However, the effects of this method need to be examined further in savanna soils of Nigeria characterized with limited rainfall, high temperature and fragile soils prone to erosion. The major stable crop grown widely in south western savanna is maize which cultivation and utilization have increased due to greater demands for consumption and for industrial purposes. Hence more land is being opened up yearly to sustain increase demands. An understanding of the climate and soil environment is necessary in order to select appropriate management practices such as tillage practices, fertilization, irrigation etc., as well as modification of the soil nutrients to optimize maize yield. This has necessitated the use of modern implements for tillage practices to facilitate farming operations. However, poor choice of implements and soil management practices, inappropriate tillage systems, seed bed types have often been identified as major constraints to cereal crop. Production in the savannah agro-ecological eastern Nigeria. Therefore advocated that in tropical countries, soil tillage practices that have significant effects compared to zero tillage should be encouraged since mechanized tillage appeared to be in-dispensable in large scale farming. This is necessary, since a granular structure does not only encourage rapid infiltration and good retention of rainfall but also pro-vides adequate moisture, air exchange capacity within the soil and minimizes resistance to root penetration.

This study was carried out to examine the influence of tillage practices on properties of soils

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Conventional tillage practices modify soil structure by changing its physical and mechanical properties such moisture content, bulk density and penetration resistance. Annual disturbance and pulverizing caused by conventional tillage produces a finer and loose soil structure as compared to conservation and no-tillage methods which leave the soil intact. This difference results in a change of number, shape, continuity and size distribution of the pores network, which controls the ability of soil to store and transmit air, water and agricultural chemicals. This in turn controls erosion, runoff and crop performance. It is on this backdrop that the researcher intends to investigate the impact of tillage practice on soil properties

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of tillage practice on soil properties. But for the successful completion of the study, the researcher put forward the following objectives:

1. To investigate the impact of tillage on soil properties
2. To evaluate the effect of tillage on productivity

• To ascertain the relationship between tillage and fertility of soil

1. To ascertain the importance of tillage in cultivating crops
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following hypotheses were formulated:

H₀: there is no significant impact of tillage on soil properties

H₁: there is a significant impact of tillage on soil properties

H₀: there is no relationship between tillage and soil fertility

H₂: there is significant relationship between tillage and soil fertility.

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is conceived that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the ministry of agriculture in educating the farmers on the advantages of tillage practice, the study will also be of great importance to the farmers who are the direct beneficiary of the tillage practice. The findings will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to carry out research on similar topic as the findings will serve as a reference point and a guide to them. Finally,  the study will be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the general public as the findings will add to the pool of knowledge.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF TERMS

The scope of the study is on the impact of tillage practice on soil properties. However, in the course of the study, the researcher encounters some constraints which limited the scope of the study. And some of these constraints are:

• Availability of research material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.
• Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
• Finance: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.
  • DEFINITION OF TERMS

Soil

Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and countless organisms that together support life on Earth. Soil is a natural body called the pedosphere which has four important functions: it is a medium for plant growth; it is a means of water storage, supply and purification; it is a modifier of Earth’s atmosphere; it is a habitat for organisms; all of which, in turn, modify the soil.

Tillage

Tillage is the agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shoveling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking. Examples of draft-animal-powered or mechanized work include ploughing (overturning with moldboards or chiseling with chisel shanks), rototilling, rolling with cultipackers or other rollers, harrowing, and cultivating with cultivator shanks (teeth). Small-scale gardening and farming, for household food production or small business production, tends to use the smaller-scale methods above, whereas medium- to large-scale farming tends to use the larger-scale methods. There is a fluid continuum, however. Any type of gardening or farming, but especially larger-scale commercial types, may also use low-till or no-till methods as well

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation and breeding of animals, plants and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal plants and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.[1] Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. The history of agriculture dates back thousands of years, and its development has been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies. Industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture farming has become the dominant agricultural methodology.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDIES

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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