Performance of Leguminous Crops under Different Tillage Practices in Silty Loam Soil of Balochistan

Abstract

Balochistan is the province of Pakistan that facing serious issues such assoil erosion, structural instability, and nutrient depletion, and water scarcity, accumulation of excessive salts in soil and low contents of organic matter. Unfortunately, the current exhaustive cropping system and intensive ploughing further promoting the mentioned problems. The following study was designed with the objective i) to evaluate the effects of different tillage and legumes on soil organic carbon dynamic in upland of Balochistan. ii) To compare the outcomes of various tillage practices on legume crop manufacturing in upland of Balochistan. Treatments consist of zero tillage (ZT), minimal tillage (MT) and traditional tillage (CT) and crop become gram develop at some point of summer time season.  Experimental results revealed that soil pH under ZT (8.1) MT (8) CT (8); EC under ZT (1.3dsm-1) MT (0.84 dsm-1) CT (0.87 dsm-1); MOC under ZT (0.27%) MT (0.24%) CT (0.25%); POC under ZT (0.45%) MT (0.42%) CT (0.4%), TOC under ZT (0.84%) MT (0.82%) CT (0.78%); OM under ZT (0.7%) MT (0.7%) CT (0.64%); MBC under ZT (0.53%) MT (0.52%) CT (0.46%); Moisture Content under ZT (16.51) MT (15.87) CT (15.16); temperature Under ZT (23.067) MT (22.867) CT (22.733) Plant emergence Under ZT (81.6%) MT (80%) CT (79%); Biological yield Under ZT (0.3933kgm-2) MT (0.38 kgm-2) CT (0.38 kgm-2); Grain Yield under ZT (0.14 kgm-2) MT (0.13 kgm-2) CT (0.12 kgm-2). It is concluded that guar crop germination was a serious problems under all the tillage practices. However, soil properties were improved with reduction of tillage practices especially buildup of organic carbon was observed under zero tillage practices.