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Influence of Seedbed Tilth on Emergence and Root and Shoot Growth of Seedlings of Some Crops

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

R. S. Malik
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar 125004, India
B. S. Jhorar
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar 125004, India
I. S. Dahiya
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar 125004, India

Summary

Wheat (Triticum aestivum), mustard (Brassica juncea), gram (Cicer arietinum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings were raised in soils of different tilth created in microplots during 1981 and 1982. Amplitude in diurnal seed-zone temperature and soil moisture content increased with tilth coarseness. At low soil moisture levels, seedling emergence of wheat and mustard decreased with increasing clod size while that of gram and barley increased. These effects were not significant at high soil moisture levels. Shoot growth of all the crops was higher under coarse tilth than under fine tilth at both moisture levels. Root growth of wheat and mustard decreased with increasing clod size while that of gram and barley increased, at both moisture levels. Mustard had the highest seedling emergence at the low moisture level. Seedling emergence and shoot growth were higher under high moisture than under low moisture for all crops. Root growth varied depending upon the type of crop.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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