Green Global
Foundation   Journal
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EFFECT OF TILLAGE METHOD ON GROWTH, GRAIN YIELD AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L.) IN FOREST SAVANNA TRANSITION ZONE OF NIGERIA (Pages : 35 - 39)

Field experiments were established at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) and Isuada both in Owo area of Southwest Nigeria in late season (commencing) September 2004, early season commencing April 2005 and late season commencing August 2006 to select suitable soil preparation method for sorghum cultivation in the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria, five tillage methods were compared to their effect on growth and yield parameters and nutrient content of the crop. Tillage methods were herbicide-based zero tillage (ZT), manual clearing (MC), disc ploughing (PL), ploughed plus harrowing (PLH) and ploughing plus two passes of harrow (PLHH). Compared with zero tillage methods (ZT, MC), mechanized tillage methods caused reduction in plant height, leaf area, stalk girth, dry matter and grain yield. Mechanized methods also gave lower N, P, k, Ca and Mg content of the plant. Growth and yield parameters reduced with increased implement pass; hence, PLHH gave least values of these parameters and nutrient content. Grain yield was reduced by 11 to 25% as a result of mechanized tillage which was not favourable to performance of sorghum. Download