An investigation on direct planting possibilities of second crop maize in Cukurova region

ABSTRACT PhD. THESIS AN INVESTIGATION ON DIRECT PLANTING POSSIBILITIES OF SECOND CROP MAIZE IN ÇUKUROVA REGION TAYFUN KORUCU DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY INSTITU OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF ÇUKUROVA Supervisor Jury Prof. Dr. Vahit KİRİŞÇİ Year: 2002, Pages: 112 Prof. Dr. Vahit KİRİŞÇİ Prof. Dr. Faruk ÖZGÜVEN Prof. Dr. Alim IŞIK Prof. Dr. Ahmet Can ÜLGER Prof. Dr. M. Tunç ÖZCAN In this study, soil and machinery parameters were determined in direct planting systems without burning stubble and these were adapted to a commercial pneumatic planter. The results were compared with conventional tillage. The study was carried out in approximately 1 ha (131.5x69 m) irrigated production area on Agricultural Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture University of Çukurova in Adana-Turkey. The research plan was set up in completely randomized blocks of split-plot design with three replicates to analyze the data. TTM-815 that is second crop maize variety was planted. Half of the field was irrigated before planting process thus; two different soil conditions (dry conditions (K) where irrigation is made after planting, and good conditions (T) where irrigation is made before planting) were formed. Stubble height was also considered as a different treatment that has two levels (tall (AY) and short (AA) stubble). Conventional planting was accomplished after seedbed preparation operations had been done by primary and secondary tillage implements. Direct planting was performed with pneumatic planter equipped with "flat double discs" + "8 wave coulter" (8), "flat double discs" + "12 wave coulter" (12), "flat double discs" + "smooth coulter" (D) and "flat double discs" (B). The results show that the effect of tillage methods was significant at 1% level on corn yield and seedling emergence. Conventional tillage (GK) and direct planting into tall stubble method with 8-waved coulter at dry soil condition (8AYK) gave the highest yield while the lowest yield was found on direct drilling into short stubble method with smooth coulter at good soil condition (DAAT). The effect of tillage methods was also significant at 1% level on fuel consumption and working time. There was approximately 35-60% reduction in fuel consumption and working time at direct planting systems in respect to the conventional tillage system. It is possible to say that the most profitable planting system in terms of incomes/costs ratio under current conditions was direct planting into short stubble method with 8-waved coulter at dry soil condition. Keywords : Conservation Tillage, Direct Drilling, Erosion, Maize II