A research on the comparison of different tillage methods at Çanakkale region for tomato production

ABSTRACTThe field experiment carried out in the production field of DEMKO at BigaCounty of the Çanakkale province in the growing season of 2002-2003. The aim of thestudy is to determine the affects of the conventional tillage method and the alternativedeep tillage method that is applied in the production of tomato which is grown asmonoculture agriculture in the region, on plant characteristics, yield and some physicaland chemical properties of the soil. While the conventional tillage method contains themoldboard plough(2) + disc(1) + bedder(1) + rototiller(1)+ planting(1) machine andoperations, the deep tillage method contains the machine and operations such as thesubsoiler(1) + disc(1) + bedder(1) + rototiller(1)+planting(1). As a result, while thehighest yield in the deep tillage method was 136.2 ton/ha, it was determined as 130.6ton/ha in the conventional tillage method. On the other hand, the deep tillage methodwhose field tillage operation per unit area was lower is determined as the leastexpensive and consequently most profitable system.Key Words: Tomato yield, soil properties, deep tillage, subsoiler.II