EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF SOIL PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES ON MAIZE YIELDS, USING FAMER’S TILLAGE PRACTICES IN MUBI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research was conducted to assess the effect of different tillage practices on soil physiochemical properties and maize yields. The experiment consisted of four treatments namely: no-till, ridge, mulch and strip till. Soil samples were collected at different farm sites between 0 -20cm and 20 – 40cm, which was later analysed in the laboratory and the result obtained from the laboratory were subjected to a statistical tool to determine the physiochemical properties of the soil using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p < 0.05  . The tillage systems considered were no-till, ridge, mulch and strip till. The results showed that there is a significant difference in soil parameters at p < 0.05 among the tillage systems. The no - tillage system resulted to the most favorable soil environment, for crop growth and best performance of crop followed by ridge tillage and mulch-tillage system in the area studied. The significant difference in yields adduced due to lower bulk density, higher water holding capacity and porosity which increased plant root proliferation and optimal utilization of soil nutrients under tilled methods. Hence tillage methods have the capability to increase production while no-tillage is better under long term production for sustainable land use.