S.Dasberg, J.Amir

1. In 1960 and 1961 experiments were carried out at the Gilat expe;t”imental farm

to test the effect of land preparation and cultivation during . the grdwing season ”

on peanut yields and soil structure.

2. In the first year experiment no favorable effect on crop yield was obtained

with land preparation and cultivati.:on. Plots prepared’to a depth of 45 cm and

cultivated during the growing season produced yields similar to those of the’

control plots; which were only til!ed to a depth of 15 cm and not cultivated.

3.In the second season depth of land preparation again had n’o influence on crop

yields and soil bulk density. It was found however that cultivation had a

favorable effect on soil structure; bulk density of the upper soil layer and

resistance of the soil to penetration were lowered by the cultivation

treatments.

4. Control plot yields in 1961 were significantly higher than those of the

cultivated plots. No differences between deep and shallow cultivation were

obtained. Three additional cultivations (to the four regular ones) caused a

further reduction in yields. The probable explanation for these facts is

mechanical damage to plants by cultivation implements.

5. No measurable effect of land preparation and cultivation treatments on soil

water relations was obtained.

 

Dasberg, S. and Amir, J. {1962). Experiments on peanut cultivation in a loess soil. PreIim. Rep. No. 393. Division of Publication, Rehovot (in Hebrew).

Dasberg, J. and Amir, J. (1964). Tillage experiments with peanuts

Agronomy J. 56: 259-262.