Evaluation of Some Tillage Systems for Cotton Production in New Halfa Agricultural Scheme– Sudan

Abstract

Selection of optimum tillage systems can reduce the cost of
land preparation and maintain or increase crop yields. The present study
was carried out on a heavy clay soil in the New Halfa agricultural scheme
to compare and evaluate the costs of some land preparation tillage
treatments for cotton production. Five tillage treatments (disc ploughing,
chisel ploughing, ridging, disc harrowing and no-tillage) were used in a
randomized complete block design. Data on soil, crop, machinery and
land preparation costs were collected. Significant differences (P = 0.01)
between the effect of tillage implements on the measured machinery
parameters were obtained. Although the conventional tillage treatments
(disc ploughing and chisel ploughing) resulted in significantly higher
yields than the conservational tillage treatments (ridging, disc harrowing
and no-till), they were more expensive and time and fuel consuming.