Effects of Conservation Tillage on Soil Moisture Retention and Crop Production in Silty Loam Soil of Balochistan

Conservation Agriculture

Abstract

This research explores the efficacy of conservation tillage systems in
comparison with farmer conventional practices in the silty loam soil of
Balochistan, Pakistan, focusing on Conventional Tillage (CT), Minimum
Tillage (MT), and Zero Tillage (ZT). Over two years, the study evaluated
soil properties and wheat crop parameters across these systems. Results
indicate initial differences in water infiltration rates, with CT and MT
exhibiting 30-35% higher rates than ZT, which showed an improving trend
over time. Soil moisture content favored CT initially but equalized across
all systems by wheat harvest. Initial surface compaction was observed 1.6
Mg m-1 in ZT while CT 1.45 Mg m-1 and respectively in MT 1.48 Mg m-1,
initially reduced bulk density due to ploughing under conventional
practices. Structural stability was 35% in ZT initially but improved across
all systems over time. While CT resulted in higher wheat biomass in the first
year due to better initial soil moisture conditions, no significant differences
in grain yield were observed among systems in both experimental years,
emphasizing the potential of MT as it exhibited enhanced water infiltration
and comparable yields to CT. This study underscores the economic and
environmental viability of reducing ploughing frequency and employing
conservation tillage practices for smallholder mountainous farmers, urging
further exploration of Zero Tillage for sustab agriculture.