SURNAME: MNUKWA

INITIALS: W

STUDENT NUMBER: 202014209

DATE: 10 AUGUST 2022

LECTURER: MRS RUTENDO ZIRISHI

COURSE CODE: AGC 222

ASSESSMENT: ASSIGNMENT 1
INTRODUCTION

Tillage systems are sequences of operations that manipulate the soil in order to produce a crop.  All
operations that affect the soil such as stirring, fining, stirring, firming and inverting are included in tillage
system. The most common operations are ploughing, harrowing, rolling and cultivation. Tillage systems
are classified into two groups namely conventional tillage system and conservation tillage system. Tillage
is an effective farm activity to improve soil tilth and soil physical conditions (Khan et al., 2010), which
increased nutrient use efficiency of crop and eventually leads to good crop yield (Bahadar et al.,2007).
Numerous factors, such as attack of pests, diseases, seasonal changes, and irrigation hampered yield of
maize but tillage is most imperative factor among them (Rosner et al., 2008). Tillage activity has also
positive effect on soil organic matter content ( Tian et al., 2016), as it can increase aeration of soil, helps
in decomposition of residue, organic nitrogen mineralization and availability of nitrogen to plants for use
(Dinnes et al., 2002). Due to heavy farm operations hard subsoil layer is developed, which poses negative
impacts on root penetration, soil bulk density, soil porosity and nutrient status, which indirectly lower the
maize crop yield (Ahmad et al., 2009). Deep tillage to depth of 30 cm is an effective approach to breakup
compacted subsoil layer (Hou et al., 2012). It is well known that intensive tillage is associated with
negative environmental impacts, such as top soil erosion by use of heavy machinery (Gupta et al., 2002).
Therefore, resource conservation technologies need to be introduced (Safeer et al., 2013).

Fertilizer application refers to the application of fertilizers into the soil close to the seed or plant in order
to supply the nutrients in adequate amounts to the roots of growing plants. The most common methods of
fertilizer application are broadcasting, side dressing, band placing, foliar spray and fertigation.
Broadcasting on maize crop is a low risk method of application, if the fertilizer is applied pre-planting or
during early growth stages. In maize production systems, practices that place the fertilizer in bands within
5cm of the seed row allow better targeting of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and zinc during
establishment when the root system is not as effective at taking up nutrients. Foliar application is used to
address an immediate nutritional need or where soil conditions restrict availability of specific nutrients.
Fertigation, by providing nutrients through the irrigation system, delivers fertilizer direct to the plant.
Most common fertigation method in maize is through center pivot irrigation systems. After 2-3 weeks or
when the crop is about 45cm high, top-dress your maize with Urea at the rate of 50 kg per acre.

DISCUSSION

Earlier studies indicated that conservation tillage gave higher yield as compared to the intensive tillage
(Shao et al., 2016). Soil organic matter, nitrogen contents, and exchangeable cation are positively
influenced under conservational tillage as compared to the conventional tillage. Due to higher soil
organic matter contents, soil physical and chemical properties improved and have significant positive
effect on crop yield . The drastic problem of soil erosion can also be minimized by zero tillage . In maize
hybrids improper sowing methods results in unproductive plants, however, using improved sowing
methods maximum crop potential can be achieved (Alias., 2003). Ridge sowing improves the physical
characteristics of the soil such as, bulk density and soil moisture contents over at planting and
conventional tillage. Additionally, ridge sowing also produce higher germination percentage as compare
to flat sowing. Continuous cultivation has been reported by several researchers (Liu et al., 2006) as being
responsible for structural degradation, decrease in soil organic matter content. Statistically high maize
production is experienced in deep tillage with conventional tillage whereas low maize production was
experienced in zero tillage drill treatments. Maximum plant population in deep tillage and conventional
tillage treatments might be due to good seed germination and better crop stand as compared to minimum
and zero tillage treatments. According to Potter et al (1996) higher plant population could be due to good
soil.
Maize is a heavy nutrient feeder, therefore it withdraws a huge amount of nutrients from the soil for plant
growth. It needs a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Maize crop plant responds very well to
heavy nitrogen fertilization (Deshmuck et al., 2008). Inorganic fertilizers are commonly used to provide
maize crop with the nutrients it needs. However, mineral fertilizers are often expensive and over-reliance
on the can lead harm soil biology, soil degradation leading to a loss in the long term capacity of soil to
sustain food production. An alternative to inorganic fertilizer is cow manure and which provide soil
fertility and soil organic matter. Fertilizer nutritional requirements for maize are based on expected yields
and availability of soil nutrients , the maize plant produces high dry matter yields and therefore requires
nutrients. For maximum yield, the maize plant must grow fast once germination is complete. Maize crop
needs nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow. Nitrogen fertilizer is essential for good leaf growth,
nitrogen is important to get higher yields of maize. Phosphorus is important for the development of the
roots of the maize plant, as it directly affects the growth of the plantPotassium is required in large
amounts for the maize crop production, especially during maximum growth. Potassium plays a role of
regulating water intake, transportation of sugar from the leaves and maintain plant rigidity.

CONCLUSION

The various tillage practices were illustrated and their implication on labor in relation to maize
production. Zero tillage practice resulted in lower maize grain yield, higher bulk density, reduced water
intake, compared to conventional tillage. Conventional tillage improved the soil environment and resulted
in increased maize yield in all cropping systems. In summary, after comparing various tillage practices it
is cleared that deep tillage and conventional tillage treatments gave maximum grain yield, than minimum
tillage and zero tillage treatments. Deep tillage and conventional tillage treatments also performed better
in parameters regarding crop growth. Additionally, higher net return . Therefore, intensive tillage
practices could be preferred over minimum and zero tillage practices for higher yield. Fertilizer
containing Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus must be used for maize crop production as they give
higher maize yield. Nitrogen in the form of urea must be applied carefully at a distance of 15-20cm from
the plant so as to not injure the leaves. Fertilizer applied in bands near where developing roots will easily
reach is a method that can be applied.
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