Tillage Effects on Some Physical Properties of Soil and Maize Yield in Lavark Research Farm

A two-year study (1996-97) was conducted to verify tillage effects on several soil properties and corn yield. The soil (fine loamy, Thermic, typic Haplargids) was treated by conventional (CT) and no-till (NT) systems. Soil organic matter (OM), mean weight diameter (MWD), penetration resistance (Cl), bulk density (BD), total nitrogen (TN) and aggregate size distribution at depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm were measured. No-till system caused the OM to be twice as much as that in the conventional tillage system. Total nitrogen in the NT and at depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm were higher by 30% and 20%, respectively. No differences obtained in bulk density and penetration resistance, but MWD in the NT was 20% and 10% higher than CT in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths, respectively. Mean weight diameter of the aggregates in the CT was smaller than that in NT. Aggregates of less than 0.25 mm at 0-20 cm depths were almost 25% higher in CT compared to NT system. The yield in the NT system was significantly lower than CT. Although reduced cultivation could bring a better soil physical condition, low initial organic matter, weak structure and heavy-textured soil produced unsuitable conditions for the crop roots and, consequently, resulted in low yield. Therefore, no-till system in this region would not be recommended.