Agronomy and Economy: Impact of Tillage and Poultry Manure on Mazie (Zea mays L.)

Seedling emergence and seedling establishment are twoimportant phases for the good crop stand and final maize crop harvest. A fieldstudy was conducted to explore the effects of different tillage practices andpoultry manure levels on the seedling emergence, growth, development, yield,and economics of the spring planted maize during 2010 and 2011. Experimentaltreatments include four tillage treatments (zero, minimum, conventional anddeep tillage) and three poultry manure amendments (control (no manure), 5 Mg·ha-1 and 10 Mg·ha-1). Seedling emergence was linearly affected as thetillage intensity was increased. Significant relationship of tillage with leafarea index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate andtotal dry matter was recorded during the both years. Poultry manure at the rateof 10 Mg·ha-1 produced the higher leaf area index, leaf areaduration, crop growth rate, total dry matter and grain yield as compared to 5 Mg·ha-1 and control. Moreover, experimental results concluded that the deep tillagepractice has taken less time to start emergence. Similarly, higher values trendof leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, total dry matteraccumulation and grain yield was shifted from deep tillage to conventional, minimumand zero tillage practices during both years. Economically, the minimum tillagewith poultry manure at rate of 10 Mg·ha-1 gave the better benefit tocost ratio and crop productivity as compared to conventional, deep and zerotillage. The experiment suggested the minimum tillage with poultry manure atthe rate of 10 Mg·ha-1 may ensure the maize grain yieldsustainability.