The Effects of the Pass Number of the Planker on Soil Physical Properties, Plant Growth and Weed Species in Cotton Agriculture
Abstract
In
cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) agriculture, very loose soil results in
reduced seed emergence and stand establishment because the contact between soil
and seed is deficient. Therefore, the use of a planker before planting may help
firm seedbeds and improve stand establishment. The objective of this study is
to determine the effects of different pass numbers of the planker on soil bulk
density, moisture content and cotton seed emergence. Also, weed species and
plant growth parameters were determined in the study. The five treatments
including different soil planking levels (P0, untreated control; P1, one pass
of planker; P2, two passes of planker; P3, three passes of planker; P4, four
passes of planker) was compared by using completely randomized block design
with three replications. The results of the study indicated that while the soil
bulk density and moisture content was increased with increasing the pass number
of planker, multi-pass of planker significantly reduced seed emergence rate and
SPAD value. The highest seed cotton yield per plant was found at P1 (one pass
of planker) treatment. Also, soil planking levels affected the weed species and
the density of this species. Control plots (P0) had higher weeds species than other
treatments. In conclusion, the findings
of this research suggest that multi-pass of planker may reduce seed emergence
and cotton yield although it increases the moisture content at 0-10 cm soil
depth which has positive effect on seed emergence, under the soil and climate
conditions like the experimental field.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Engineering
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
March 29, 2019
Submission Date
October 26, 2018
Acceptance Date
February 23, 2019
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 29 Number: 1
