Relative Efficiency of Different Tillage Practices and Their Effect on Soil Physical Properties under Semi-Arid Climate of Tandojam, Pakistan

Tillage practices affect physical properties of soil that are crucial for better crop production. The study was carried out to compare the efficiency of two different tillage implements and their effect on some soil physical properties. The tillage implements included cultivator and disc plow. The soil properties viz. soil moisture, bulk density and infiltration rate were determined before and after the tillage practices. However, the efficiency of tillage operation including operating speed, travel reduction and fuel consumption were taken during the tillage operation. The comparative analysis showed that the cultivator was better in reducing soil bulk density (12-18%) along with increasing the infiltration rate up to 61.5% and conserving soil moisture up to 95%. The disc plow, on the other hand, reduced the bulk density of soil more effectively with up to 21% efficiency and enhancing soil porosity (23%). However, disc plow was less efficient in increasing infiltration rate (38%) and conserving soil moisture (87-90%). Comparatively higher fuel consumption (23.3 L hr-1) was observed in operating disc plow with less operating speed (4.1 km hr-1) and higher travel reduction (27.5%). On the other hand, higher cultivator operating speed (4.76km hr-1) was observed with less travel reduction (21.8%) and fuel consumption (14.9 Lhr-1). The cultivator, being more economical and having good effects on soil properties, was the best option for tillage operations in the clay soils of cotton-wheat rotation system under semi-arid climate of Tandojam, Pakistan.