In-situ conservation of residual soil moisture through tillage and mulch for maize (Zea mays) in tropical Bay Islands

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during dry season (December-April) of 1994-95 and 1995-96 to study the
effect of tillage (conventional and minimum) and mulching (rice straw, saw dust, coir dust and rice husk) on the
growth, yield, moisture stress index and water use of maize (Zea mays L.) in the humid tropical climate of Bay Islands.
The minimum tillage and conventional tillage were at par in respect of yield, crop growth and water-use. Among the
various mulches, rice straw gave 52.11 % higher maize yield compared to the control. The yield increase was due to
better crop growth parameters, improvement in moisture-stress indices, efficient root development, conservation of
more amount of residual soil-moisture in the crop root zone and higher water-use efficiency. The coir dust and saw
dust were next important materials bringing 47.59 and 46.77% higher maize yield than the unmulched plots.