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Small-scale, intensive cultivation methods: The effects of deep hand tillage on the productivity of bush beans and red beets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Ben F. Holt  and
Ivan K. Smith
Ben F. Holt
Affiliation:
Graduate student, Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Athens, OH 45701.
Ivan K. Smith
Affiliation:
Professor, Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Athens, OH 45701.
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Abstract

This study examined how one aspect of intensive cultivation, double digging by hand (loosening the planting bed to 50 cm deep), contributed to crop productivity and nutrient uptake in bush beans (1994 and 1995) and red beets (1995 only). Comparison beds were prepared with the soil cultivated to 25 cm (single dig) and 6 cm (surface cultivation). Although there were significant differences (1994 beans) between the surface cultivated beds and other cultivation types for leaf mass and chlorophyll content, there were no significant differences in the total mass of beans (whole fruit) produced. There were no significant differences in beet green or root (edible portion) biomass among cultivation methods. Levels of Ca, Mg, and K in the bean fruits and beet roots were not significantly different among cultivation methods. This study demonstrated that deep cultivation significantly alters the soil profile as measured by penetrometer resistance, but that this change does not necessarily alter productivity or nutrient uptake. We suggest that deep hand tillage has little effect on crop productivity in well-watered and moderate to high fertility soils. These results are similar to those found in mechanically subsoiled systems.

Keywords

alternative agricultureconventional tillagedouble diggingno-tillorganic amendmentssubsoiling
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 1998 , pp. 28 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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