The Effects of the Pass Number of the Planker on Soil Physical Properties, Plant Growth and Weed Species in Cotton Agriculture

In cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) agriculture, very loose soil results in reduced seed emergence and stand establishment because the contact between soil and seed is deficient. Therefore, the use of a planker before planting may help firm seedbeds and improve stand establishment. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of different pass numbers of the planker on soil bulk density, moisture content and cotton seed emergence. Also, weed species and plant growth parameters were determined in the study. The five treatments including different soil planking levels (P0, untreated control; P1, one pass of planker; P2, two passes of planker; P3, three passes of planker; P4, four passes of planker) was compared by using completely randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study indicated that while the soil bulk density and moisture content was increased with increasing the pass number of planker, multi-pass of planker significantly reduced seed emergence rate and SPAD value. The highest seed cotton yield per plant was found at P1 (one pass of planker) treatment. Also, soil planking levels affected the weed species and the density of this species. Control plots (P0) had higher weeds species than other treatments. In conclusion, the findings of this research suggest that multi-pass of planker may reduce seed emergence and cotton yield although it increases the moisture content at 0-10 cm soil depth which has positive effect on seed emergence, under the soil and climate conditions like the experimental field