Annals of Agriculture and Environment

Exploring Tillage Operation Strategies to Improve Soil properties and Maize (Zea mays L.) Crop Productivity in the Uplands of Balochistan

Asmat Ullah

Department of Soil Sciences, Balochistan Agriculture College, Quetta

Muhammad Sharif

Department of Soil Sciences, Balochistan Agriculture College, Quetta

Auranzaib Jamali

Department of Soil Sciences, Balochistan Agriculture College, Quetta

Sadudin

Department of Soil Sciences, Balochistan Agriculture College, Quetta

Muhammad Rafique

Forest and Wildlife Department, Nushki

Misbah Ullah

Directorate Soil and Water Testing, Agriculture Research Institute, Quetta

Keywords: Tillage, Upland, Zero tillage, Minimum tillage, Conventional tillage

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Abstract

Soil erosion, low content of organic matter, high pH, water scarcity, changing climates, nutrient depletion, and increasing cost of inputs are serious issues in Balochistan. Unfortunately, the current comprehensive challenges need further advancing research to eliminate those different issues. So, the accompanying exploration was conducted with the objectives. i) To evaluate the effects of different tillage practices on soil organic carbon and different cereal crops in the upland of Balochistan. ii) To evaluate the effects of different tillage practices on maize crop production in uplands of Balochistan. This study focused on Minimum tillage practices (MT), Zero tillage practices (ZT), and Conventional tillage practices (CT) and this study was experimented in the summer season. Test results exposed that soil pH under ZT (7.8) MT (7.9) CT (8.0); EC under ZT (0.42 ds m^-1) MT (0.44 ds m^-1) CT (0.44 ds m^-1); OM under ZT (0.60%) MT (0.55%) CT (0.51%); P under ZT (3.8 ppm) MT (3.83 ppm) CT (3.60 ppm), N under ZT (9.44 ppm) MT (9.82 ppm) CT (9.34 ppm ); K under ZT (91.57 ppm)  MT (91.85 ppm ) CT (91.51 ppm); Temperature under ZT (30 ℃ ) MT (32 ℃) CT (34 ℃); Moisture Content under ZT (17%) MT (16%) CT (15%); Soil bulk density ZT (1.33 g cm^-3) MT (1.31 g cm^-3) CT (1.31 g cm^-3), Biological yield (kg ha^-1) under ZT (4900), MT (5700), CT (7200); Grain Yield under ZT (2750 kg ha^-1), MT (3250 kg ha^-1), CT (3850 kg ha^-1). Soil properties were improved with the reduction of tillage practice addition of residues.