Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 6(6): 987-992, 2010

2010, INSInet Publication

Assessment of Tillage/zero Tillage Farming Systems in Ultisols of Benin City, Nigeria

W.A. Molindo and M.A. Nwachokor
Department of Agriculture (Soil Science Option) Faculty of Basic and Applied Science. Benson
Idahosa University PMB 1100, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Abstract: The study assessed both tillage/zero tillage farming systems in ultisols where pineapples
(Ananas comosus (L)., Merr) were planted in the teaching and research farm, benson idahosa university
Benin city, Nigeria. The aims were to compare both tillage/zero tillage systems. There after confirm which
of the system would retain nutrients that can sustain pineapple growth. Therefore advice farmers on the
method to adopt. First, soil samples collected were analysed. Then pineapple suckers were planted in both
tilled and untilled soil. During the second and fourth years of pineapple growth, the soil was analysed
again. The nutrients NPK were used as fertility indices. Pre-planted soils NPK content were 2.80g kg-1,
18.50 mg kg-1, 0.31 cmol kg-1 respectively. Compared to critical levels, N = 1.50 2.00 g kg-1[14] P =
10.00 16.00 mg kg-1 (adeoye and agboola, 1985), k = 0.20 cmol kg-1[5] the soil had a good nutrient
status. During the second year of pineapple growth NPK values from tilled soil were, 1.40g kg-1, 9.30
mg kg-1 , 0.14 cmol kg-1, where as those from untilled soil were, 1.90g kg-1, 12.20mg kg-1, o.30 cmol kg-1
respectively. For the fourth year NPK values were, 1.05g kg-1, 8.50mg kg-1 0.10 cmol kg-1 from tilled
soil and 2.40g kg-1, 19.40 mg kg-1, 0.28 cmol kg-1 from untilled soil. The study showed a significant (p
= 0.05) decrease in the NKP comtent from the tilled soil during both the second and fourth year of
pineapple growth. The reverse was the case in untilled soil where a significant (p = 0.05) increase in NPK
was obtained, these findings confirmed that zero tillage encouraged nutrient retention in the ultisol,
therefore its advisable for farming systems when growing pineapples.
Key words: Assessment, of Tillage/zero tillage, Farming, Ultisols, Nigeria.
ultisols of the the humid tropics. Some scientist [4].
had reported on the practices of this farming
methods when crops such as maize (zea mays), rice
(oryza sativa) and cassava (manihot esculenta) were
planted in ultisols.
There is a dearth of information on tillage/ zero
tillage farming systems in terms of pineapple growth.
As a contribution to scientific knowledge its
appropriate that extra studies be done to assess this
farming system and confirm which of them would
profit pineapple farmers.
Therefore the aims of this study were to assess
both tillage /zero tillage farming systems in an ultisol
with bias to pineapple cultivation, using the soils
retention of NPK as the indices. Hence to confirm
whether its tillage or zero tillage that would encourage
pineapple growth and recommend this to the local
farmers

INTRODUCTION

[17]

Tillage involves ploughing the field leading to

exposure of the soil surface and probable construction
of beds, before plant seeds. This farming system has
advantages and disadvantages. Some farmers assume
its time consuming, labour intensive and expensive.
Other complain that it reduces the initial available
nutrients meant for plant consumption, through
incidence of erosion and leaching, because the soil
would be exposed to the direct impact of rain. Whereas
zero tillage is a systems of soil management that
eliminates all pre-planting activities such as seed bed
preparation, except for the opening of a narrow strip or
hole in the ground for seed placement to ensure seedsoil contact. Farmers practising zero tillage claim that
it improves the soil, conserves water, reduces supra
optimal soil temperature, improves soil fertility, reduces
soil compaction, increases the activity of soil fauna
and microflora, reduces labour requirement and leads
to increase in crop yield [8]. However, local farmers in
the environs of Benin City do not have a definite
system to practice when growing pineapples in the

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted in the Teaching and
Research Farm of Benson Idahosa University, Benin

Corresponding Author: W.A. Molindo, Department of Agriculture (Soil Science Option) Faculty of Basic and Applied
Science. Benson Idahosa University PMB 1100, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
E-mail: [email protected]

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 6(6): 987-992, 2010

City, Southern Nigeria. This location belong to the

ecological zones in Southern Nigeria reputable for
pineapple cultivation. It is humid to sub-humid tropical
with distinct dry and wet seasons. The dry season
begins early November and end by March. The rainfall
pattern is bimodal with peaks in July and August there
is a short spell in mid August which is accompanied
by a few thunder storms.
The ultisols has parent materials of sedimentary
rocks (coastal plain sands) formations. The
experimental location was selected because it
accommodates the intensive farming activities of
pineapple which is adapted to this ecological zone in
Nigeria.
A random sampling scheme was done to collect
representative composite core soil samples from preclassified site at a depth of 0 15 cm for laboratory
analysis before pineapple were planted.

collected twice from both the tilled and untilled soil

during the second and fourth years of pineapple
growth. The soil was analysed.

Laboratory Soil Analysis Before Planting: The soil

samples collected from 0 15 cm depth were air dried,
crushed and sieved to pass through a 2 mm mesh. The
following analysis were then carried on them. The
particle size analysis was determined according to the
principles of particle size and sedimentation using a
hydrometer for reading[1]. The soil pH was determined
electrometrically following the procedures [11]. Organic
carbon by the Walkey and Black method [12]. Organic
matter by the wet dichromate acid oxidation method
[12]
. Nitrate nitrogen was colorimetrical using phenol
2-4- disulfonic acid method [6].
The total nitrogen was determined by using the
macro- Kjeldahl method [2]. Available P was by the
Bray P1 method[13] and colour developed in soil extract
using the ascorbic acid method[10]. Exchangeable bases
(K,Na,Ca,Mg) were determined using the neutral 1 N
NH4OAc method [1]. Exchangeable acidity was
extracted with 1N KCl [15] and determined by titration
with 0.5N NaOH using phenolphthalein indicator.
Summation of the exchangeable bases (K,Na,Ca,Mg)
and exchangeable acidity gave the (ECEC) effective
cation exchange capacity [3]. The extractable
micronutirents (Mn,Fe,Zn, Cu) were extracted with
0.1N HCl [16] and determined with an atomic absorption
spectrophotometer. Data collected was subjected to
statistical analysis [8].

Results: Table 1 shows the results of the soil analysis

before pineapples were planted. The values for N P K
were as follows: N=2.80 g kg-1; P =18.50 mg kg-1; K=
0.31 cmol kg-1. This showed that the fertility status of
the soil to be relatively high when compared to their
critical levels N=1.5-2.0 g kg-1 [14] and[14] , P = 10.00
16.00 mg kg-1 (Adeoye and Agboola, 1985) K=0.160.20 cmol kg-1, [5]for Southern Nigerian soils.
Other nutrients, Ca = 2.9 cmol kg-1 and Mg = 0.5
cmol kg-1 were above their critical range Ca = 2.0 2.5 cmol kg-1 (Adeoye and Agboola, 1985) and Mg =
0.2-0.4 cmol kg-1[9], Adeoye and Agboola 1985). With
this result it was expected that this soil would
encourage pineapple growth.
The result of soil properties for tillage/zero tillage
conditions within the second year of pineapple growth
is shown in Table 2. It showed a relative decrease of
the soil nutrients (N P K ) in both tilled and zero
tilled plots when compared to the values before
planting of pineapples. These
values were
exceptionally lower in plots under tillage conditions
than zero tillage ones.
Table 3 shows values for the soil properties during
the fourth year of pineapple growth . The values from
the tilled plots were again lower than those from
untilled plots.
The N P K content in the soil before planting and
that within the second and fourth year in plots under
tillage and zero tillage conditions is shown in Table 4.
Higher values of N P K were observed in the 0 -15
cm depth in zero tillage plots than plots that were
tilled for both the second and fourth year of pineapple
growth, when compared to the values obtained before
pineapple were planted there were significant (p =
0.05) differences of N P K values of the fourth year
planting with the others .

Soil Analysis Within the Second and Fourth Year of

Pineapple Growth: Within the second and fourth years
respectively of the pineapple growth soil samples were
again collected separately from both the tilled and
untilled soil then prepared and analysed. This
quantitative analyses were used as a measure to
determine the changes in soil properties that might had
occurred in both the tilled / untilled soil.
These properties were then used as a parameter to
predict the soil fertility status. The concept was that in
tillage/zero tillage farming system, when the properties
of a soil indicates a good fertility status, farmers would
be adviced to choose either tillage or zero tillage
farming system to grow their pineapples.

Planting: The total land area used for planting was

(50x50) m2 the soil in one half (25x25) m2 of this land
area was subjected to tillage and the other half (25x25)
m2 was not tilled (i.e. zero tillage). Pineapple suckers
were planted in rows at a distance of (100x60) cm
between and within. The plants were allowed to grow
naturally without any fertilizer applied to them. Within
this period of pineapple growth soil samples were
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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 6(6): 987-992, 2010

Table 1: .Physico-chemical Properties of the Soil Before Pineapple Were Planted.
SOIL PROPERTY
VALUES (0 15 cm depth)
Sand (%)
80.50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Silt (%)
8.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Clay (%)
10.90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Textural class
Loamy sand
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6.80
pH (H2O)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6.40
pH (CaCl2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
10.20
Organic C (g kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
14.30
Organic M ( g kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total N
2.80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C:N ratio
4:1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
9.95
Nitrate N ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
18.50
Available P ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.31
Exch. K ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2.90
Exch. Ca ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.50
Exch. Mg ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.15
Exch. Na ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.43
Total Exch. Bases (TEB) (cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.71
Exch. Acidity ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.43
ECEC ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
3.10
Extractable Mn ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.44
Extractable Cu ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.30
Extractable Zn ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2.80
Extractable Fe ( mg kg )
Table 2: .Results of Soil Properties Within Two Years of Pineapple Growth.
Soil Property
*Value (0 - 15cm depth)
---------------------------------------------------------------------SIPUT
SIPUZT
Sand (%)
80.00
80.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Silt (%)
8.80
8.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Clay (%)
11.20
10.80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Textural class
L.S
LS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6.20
6.70
pH (H2O)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6.10
6.40
pH (CaCl2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
8.40
9.50
Organic C ( g kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
9.10
10.60
Organic M ( g kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 6(6): 987-992, 2010

Table 2: Continue
Total N
1.40
1.90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C:N
6:1
5:1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
7.50
8.20
Nitrate N ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
9.30
12.20
Available P ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.14
0.30
Exch. K (cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.33
0.45
Exch. Ca ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.20
0.30
Exch. Mg (cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.12
0.16
Exch. Na (cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.79
1.21
Total Exch. Bases (TEB) ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.52
0.60
Exch. Acidity ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.31
1.85
ECEC ( cmol kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2.05
2.90
Extractable Mn ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.29
0.40
Extractable Cu (mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.10
1.15
Extractable Zn ( mg kg )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.80
2.40
Extractable Fe ( mg kg )
SIPUT = soil in plots under tillage
SIPUZT = soil in plots under zero tillage .
LS = Loamy sand. *values are means from the plots
Table 3: .Results of Soil Properties Within Four Years Continuous Pineapple Growth.
Soil Property
Values (0 - 15cm depth)
----------------------------------------------------------------SIPUTPUZTC
PUZTC
Sand (%)
81.00
82.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Silt (%)
7.00
7.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Clay (%)
12.00
11.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Textural class
L.S
LS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5.90
6.00
pH (H2O)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5.20
5.70
pH (CaCl2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
7.50
12.50
Organic C (g kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10.20
17.30
Organic M (g kg -1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.05
2.40
Total N (g kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C:N ratio
7:1
5.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5.90
9.50
Nitrate N (mg kg -1 )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8.50
19.40
Available P (mg kg -1 )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.10
0.28
Exch. K (c mol kg -1 )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.25
0.56
Exch. Ca (c mol kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.19
0.40
Exch. Mg (c mol kg -1 )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 6(6): 987-992, 2010

Table 3: Continue
Exch. Na (c mol kg -1 )
0.10
0.18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.64
1.42
Total Exch. Bases (TEB) (c mol kg -1 )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.49
0.71
Exch. Acidity (c mol kg -1 )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1.13
2.13
ECEC (c mol kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2.40
3.60
Extractable Mn (mg kg -1 )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
0.22
0.37
Extractable Cu (mg kg )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.70
0.88
Extractable Zn (mg kg -1 )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1.20
1.53
Extractable Fe (mg kg -1 )
SIPUT = Soil in plots under tillage.
SIPUZT =Soil in Plots under zero tillage.
LS = Loamy sand.
Table 4: Comparative Results of the Nutrients (NPK) Before Pineapples were Planted Then Within the Second and Foruth Years of Pineapple
Growth.
Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus and Potossium values @ 0 15cm depth N P K VALUES (0-15cm depth)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NBG
N2T
N2ZT
N4T
N4ZT
Mean
LSD 5%
2.10
1.40
1.90
1.05
2.40
1.77
0.19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PBG
P2T
P2ZT
P4T
P4ZT
Mean
LSD 5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15.50
9.30
12.20
8.50
19.40
12.98
7.94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------KBG
K2T
K2ZT
K4T
K4ZT
Mean
LSD 5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.13
0.14
0.30
0.10
0.28
0.23
0.04
UNITS:N= g/kg; P=mg/kg; K=cmol/kg. BG = Before Growth.
2T= Two years within growth of pineapple in tilled plots.
2ZT= Two years within growth of pineapple in zero tillage plots.
4T= Four years within growth of pineapple in tillage plots
4ZT= Four years within growth of pineapple in zero tilled plots.

The build up of a higher nutrient status in plots

under zero tillage is probably due to a retention
capacity associated with undisturbed soil structure and
texture encouraged by the zero tillage. In addition to
plant debris accumulation that remained on the top soil.
Where as the reduced values of the soil properties
that indicated a low nutrient status for the soil in plots
under tillage condition maybe due to the initial
exposure of the soil, aided with erosion that might had
depleted the nutrients and the ultimate plants utilisation
of nutrient initially present in the soil. This study that
investigated which of farming the systems that is either
zero tillage or tillage in ultisol would encourage
pineapple growth in an ecology noted for the
cultivation of this crop. Proved to be positive for the
zero tillage. From the finding it might be inferred that
zero tillage would encourage pineapple growth in this
location of the study. The sustained a higher nutrient
status in the soil under zero tillage compared to plots
under tillage condition indicates that the test crop
(pineapple) would perform better when planted in soil
under zero tillage condition.
The ultisol was able to retain a relatively higher

Discussion: The approach of using the determined

properties of an ultisol to assess whether zero tillage or
tillage farming system would favour pineapple cropping
in an ecological zone noted for the cultivation of this
crop was justified by this study. The initial properties
of the soil showed that its fertility status to be
relatively high. The N.P.K, Ca and Mg were above
their critical levels in Southern Nigerian soils. Within
the second year of pineapple growth on the soil
properties were slight decreased. When compared to
values obtained before planting the pineapple in either
the zero tilled or till plots. Definitely soil properties
values in plots under tillage condition were relatively
lower than those in zero tillage plots. The observed
lower nutrient concentration may be due to either
luxurious consumption of nutrients by the pineapple in
their early growth period both in zero-tilled and tilled
plots, or the consequences of nutrient elluviation and
eluviation in tilled plots. Within the fourth year soil
properties showed significant (p=0.05) increase in
values from the zero tilled plot than those even before
pineapple were planting. Where as those in plots under
tillage condition were lower than those before planting.
991

Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 6(6): 987-992, 2010

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