Effect of alternate tillage practices on rooting characteristics of wheat under rice-wheat cropping sequence

Abstract

Abstract : Field experiments were carried out in silty clay loam soil of Joydebpur and clay loam soil of Jessore to study the effects of alternate tillage practices on rooting characteristics of crop under rice-wheat cropping sequence. Root weight density was always maximum in the surface layers in all the treatments in both the locations. Below 30 cm depth, considerable root growth was noticed in deep tilled plots. However, lower root weight density was found in minimum tilled plots. Use of either deep tillage or alternate tillage systems prevented the formation of dense layer in the soil profile which enables the wheat crop to distribute its root to lower soil depths.