Effects of tillage, intercropping with grasses and grass management on soil physical properties and grain yield of doubled-cropped rainfed maize in Metro District, Lampung Province, Indonesia | |
| Author | Rahayu, Ahadiyat Yugi |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AS-07-02 |
| Subject(s) | Tillage--Research--Indonesia Grasses--Research--Indonesia Crops and soils Corn--Soils--Indonesia |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Technical Science in Agricultural System and Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. AS-07-02 |
| Abstract | Maize is grown during both wet and dry seasons and a major economic crop of the highland farmers in Lampung province, Indonesia. Rainfed maize is heavily dependent upon the water availability during the growing period, yields are drastically reduced during dry season. This study was conducted to enhance soil moisture availability by attempting to develop subsoil moisture retention by growing grasses with maize in intercropping combined with tillage in the wet season followed by grass management in the dry season. Three tillage methods (viz. zero, conventional and deep tillage) and four cropping patterns [viz. sole maize, maize intercropped with clump grass (Vetiveria zizanoides), elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)] in the rainy season in a split-plot design, and with grass management in the succeeding dry season were tested with three replications. There was no significant effect of tillage and cropping pattern on soil properties viz. bulk density,, porosity and organic C and also crop parameters viz. plant height, biomass and yield. Yet, tillage had a significantly effect on leaf area index, number of kernels per ear, 100-kernels weight and harvest index. There were significant interactions between tillage and cropping pattern on vertical root distance and root weight. Root length affected by tillage methods and cropping pattern but no interaction (P=0.05). In dry season, preceding tillage and cropping pattern followed by grass management had significant interaction on organic C, but bulk density and porosity were affected by preceding cropping pattern. Soil bulk density and organic C were lowest in control (preceding sole maize combined with conventional tillage plots) while soil porosity was opposite. Preceding cropping pattern and grass management had a significant effect on soil moisture at 30-70 cm and 70-100 cm soil depth at tasseling and 3 weeks after tasseling (WAT) stage, respectively. A similar interaction and results were found even for soil moisture at 30-70 cm at grass management at 70-100 soil depth at harvesting. There was a three way interaction due to preceding tillage method x cropping pattern in the rainy season followed by grass management in dry season, which enhanced root systems, plant growth and yield and yield components, except on plant height, leaf area index, 100-kernels weight and harvest index (P=0.05). Maize intercropped with clump grass, elephant grass and lemon grass gave a significantly higher yield than control under all tillage methods. This study showed the potential advantages of preceding season's cropping on the succeeding maize crop of the dry season. The moisture availability to maize in the dry season will be enhanced and which improve the yield maize production through conventional and deep tillage, which also improve soil condition especially for improving organic C. Growing maize + grass in the preceding season will enhance the soil moisture retention and availability to succeeding maize in the dry season and favour maize grower with high grain yields. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. AS-07-02 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems(AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Jayasuriya, H.P.W.;Clemente, R.S.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Technological Professional Skills and Development Sector Project (TPSDP) Universitas jenderal Soediman, Indonesia; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |