?EFFECT OF TWO TILLAGE SYSTEMS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, ROOT GROWTH AND THE YIELD OF RICE AND MAIZE

Abstract

To investigate the effect of tillage on soil physical properties and crop yield field experiments using rice and maize
were carried out at the Bangladesh Agricultural University farmland during the autumn and winter seasons of 1989 and
1990. The rice cultivars BRll and Pajam were used in the autumn season of 1989, while during the winter of 1990, BR2
rice and maize (Barnali) were cultivated. Results revealed that the bulk density values were greater due to tilling by
country plough than power tiller except in the expetiment with BRll rice. Soil bulk density increased significantly with
an increase of soil depth. Root density of different crops was generally greater with power tiller as compared to country
plough and it decreased significantly with an increase in soil depth. There were no significant differences in rice yield
and straw due to power tiller and country plough. However, maize grain yield and car length were significantly greater
with country plough as compared to power tiller.