Comparison of direct drilling, reduced cultivation and ploughing on the growth of cereals: 3. Winter wheat and spring barley on a calcareous clay

Abstract

SUMMARY: Mouldboard ploughing, deep and shallow tined cultivation followed by conventional seed-bed preparation, and direct drilling were compared from 1972 to 1976 on a calcareous clay soil in two experiments, one on winter wheat and the other on spring barley.At sowing the moisture content, bulk density and resistance to penetration in the surface layer of soil of uncultivated land were all greater than in soil that had been ploughed or cultivated deeply. Below 10 cm moisture content was less and root penetration was greater in the uncultivated soil. In all years winter wheat established and yielded well following direct drilling and shallow cultivation. In two dry autumns wheat establishment following ploughing was slower and less complete than with direct drilling, and in 1 year the yield was less. Spring barley established and yielded well without consistent differences in all years with all treatments.