Impact of different tillage practices on soil biochemical parameters, root and shoot growth and yield attributes of winter wheat

Abstract

Higher frequency of heavy machinery on farm land leads to formation of hard pan in soil retarding proliferation of roots. We analysed the growth parameters of root and shoot of wheat sown under no tillage, reduced tillage and deep tillage systems. Physicochemical properties, microbial count of soil, and parameters of shoot and root growth were recorded. The N, P, K content of soil was almost similar in all the treatments up to 30 cm soil depth. Soil moisture content, plant height, and tiller numbers were significantly higher under deep tillage. However, harvest index and 1000-grain weight were similar in all the treatments. Root length and root surface area at 10-20 cm and root volume at 0-10 cm soil depth were higher under deep tillage. This shows that, both root and shoot growth parameters can be improved by adopting deep tillage practices that can break sub surface hard pan of soil.