Effects of Land Preparation on Soil Erosion, Growth and Yield of Corn (Zey Mays L.)

Abstract

The  objectives of this field trial were to study the effects of land preparation on soil erosion and yield of corn cultivar CPDK 888 new in Pha Khong village, Hui Som sub-district, Phu Kradueng district, Loei province. The experiment was designed as RCB with 3 replications and 5 treatments namely (1) conventional tillage; (2) tillage method recommended by the government plough roughly for the first time then harrow humus after plough. Soil expose to the sun for 10 days. Then plough in regular furrows for the second time at 1 day. Prior to seeding remove weeds between row by labour at 25 days after corn emergence. Minimum tillage by paraquat application at 89 g ai/rai at 7 days prior to seeding. (3) Then plough in regular furrows for the second time at 1 day prior to seeding. Remove weeds between row by labour at 25 days after corn emergence. No tillage by mixture of paraquat 38 g and atrazine 172 g ai/rai at 7 days prior to seeding. (4) Then used alaclor 240 g ai/rai at 25 days after corn emergence. And (5) strip tillage used glyphosate 240 g ai/rai plough by chisel width 75 cm at 7 days prior to seeding. No tillage improved soil physical properties. Minimum tillage, no tillage and strip tillage had also improved some chemical properties of soil. Minimum tillage, no tillage and strip tillage in particular, gave more pronounced effects on reducing soil loss by erosion than conventional tillage. Nevertheless, minimum tillage, no tillage and strip tillage exerted insignificant effect on promoting corn of growth and yield but gave more income than that of the conventional tillage method.