Technical and economical analysis of different soil tillage methods on first crop wheat and second crop maize in the South Aegean conditions

This study was carried out in conditions of South Aegean Region; at the Dalaman Agricultural Enterprises in 2012 and 2013 sowing seasons. In this study, the best suitable soil tillage and sowing methods that can be used in first crop wheat and second crop maize were investigated. For different tillage methods including conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage 1 (RT1), reduced tillage 2 (RD2) and direct planting (DP), applied in first crop wheat and second crop maize has been compared in term of plant growing and yield. In the study, fuel consumption and average labour success of machines, growing parameters such as average outflow time of the plant, seedling emergence, plant height, thousand-kernel weight and grain yield were determined. At the soil tillage and planting time, soil moisture content, soil bulk density and penetration resistance were determined and the effects of tillage methods on soil particle size distribution, soil salinity and organic matter content were investigated. The study was conducted according to the completely randomized design with three replicates. As a result of the evaluation the effect of tillage methods on yield of maize and wheat were significantly (p<0.05) different between years. The highest and lowest yield for maize was detected in conventional and direct planting method respectively. The highest grain yield of wheat planting was detected in direct planting method in the first year, while it was detected in conventional tillage method in the second year. There was not found a significant difference between treatments. The lowest yield in wheat planting was obtained in RT2 at both years. The highest fuel consumption was observed in conventional method (CT) whereas the lowest value was found in zero tillage method. The highest labour success was detected in direct planting method, while the lowest values were determined in the RT1 and CT methods. The cost of seed, fertilizer, cultivation, fuel and subsides considered earned income and expenses has been determined. Total expenditure and total income were determined; according to economic analysis the most economical tillage method has been determined. In wheat production the highest income was found in direct planting method, whereas the highest income for maize was found in CT method. Key Words: First crop, second crop, wheat, maize, soil tillage, direct planting, economic analysis