Impact of Selected Soil Physical Properties on Emergence of Maize Crop in Peshawar Valley

Abstract

A research experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of selected soil physical properties on emergence of maize crop in Peshawar valley. Two research trials were carried out during the year 2011-12 at the Malakandhir Farm of the University Agriculture Peshawar. Nine treatments were arranged in RCBD with 4 replications with a total of 36 plots. The maize variety Jalal was planted using a maize planter having a seed rate 50 kg.ha^-1. The maximum penetration resistance at 0-20 cm depth of 243.70 N cm^-2 was recorded in plots prepared by cultivator twice followed by planking while minimum penetration resistance of 234.70 Ncm^-2 was recorded in plots prepared by mould board plough followed by rotavator. Mean values for tractor passes showed that maximum penetration resistance of 242.79 Ncm^-2was noted in plots that received four tractor pass while minimum penetration resistance of 238.28 Ncm^-2was noted in plots that received zero tractor passes. Maximum bulk density of 1.35 g.cm^-3 was recorded from plots prepared by cultivator twice followed by planking while lower bulk density of 1.27 g.cm^-3 was recorded from plots prepared by mold board plough followed by rotavator. Mean values for tractor passes showed that lower bulk density of 1.28 g.cm^-3 were noted from plots that received zero passes while maximum bulk density of 1.34 g.cm^-3 were recorded from plots that received 4 tractor passes. Maximum days to emergence of 5.56 were recorded from plots prepared by cultivator twice followed by planking while fewer days of 5.45 were recorded for emergence of maize in plots prepared by mould board plough followed by rotavator. Mean values for tractor passes showed that more days of 6.13 were noted for emergence of maize in plots that received four tractor pass while  less days 5.20 were observed with in plots that received zero tractor passes. More number of plants of 9.90 m^-2 of maize emerged in plots prepared by mould board plough followed by rotavator while fewer plants of 9.66 m^-2 of maize emerged in plots plough by cultivator twice followed by planking. Mean values for tractor passes showed that maximum emergence of 10.00 m^-2 of maize plants were noted from plots that received zero tractor pass while maximum emergence of 9.26 m^-2 of maize plants were noted from plots that received four passes of tractor.

Keywords?Penetration Resistance, Bulk Density, Emergence, Tillage, Compaction, Maize