The influence of seed-drill choice on soil physical properties and crop performance in a semi-arid production region of South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Strauss, J. A. | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Truter, Karen Joane | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agronomy. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-02-17T11:30:08Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-04-28T12:16:29Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-02-17T11:30:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-04-28T12:16:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-03 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Producers following conservation agriculture principles rely on seed-drill equipment that place seed directly in the soil. Most producers are currently using tine openers to establish their crops but the interest in disc openers is increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the seed-drill opener on seedbed properties and crop performance. The study was conducted 35 km south of Swellendam in the Napky region of the southern Cape, South Africa in two production seasons (2018 and 2019). Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were seeded with seed-drills mounted with either double disc, tine or a combination of tines and single disc openers. Soil bulk density, gravimetric soil water content and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were used as an indication of the influence of the seed-drill openers on the soil physical properties. Soil bulk density and gravimetric soil water content were determined 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after seeding for a depth of 100 mm on the seeding row, while unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was only determined on days 7 and 60 after seeding. Soil bulk density varied between the tested seed-drills (p < 0.05), especially directly following the seeding operation. A tendency was noted that a decrease in soil disturbance, at the time of seeding, conserve more gravimetric soil water in the seed-furrow. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity showed inconsistent results over the first growing season. Various crop parameters were evaluated to draw conclusions about the influence of seed-drill choice on crop performance. Seeding depth was determined on a few sampling dates from 16 days after seeding to calculate an average seeding depth. Seedlings were counted approximately every four days to determine the rate of emergence and survival. Biomass production was measured respectively 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after seeding. By the end of the growing season, yield components were used to estimate the potential yield for each of the seed-drills, except for canola. Seeding depth was most accurate where the tine seed-drill was used for seeding purposes (p < 0.05). However, the direct influence of seeding depth on seedling emergence is not prevalent. Barley and wheat plant populations did not differ between the different seeddrills (p > 0.05), but lower canola populations were established with a double disc seed-drill (p < 0.05). Increased biomass production (p < 0.05) was noted towards the end of the growing seasons, where seeding took place with less soil disturbance (i.e. double disc seed-drill). The type of seed-drill and its associated opener will influence soil physical properties and crop performance to different extents, depending on the prevailing climatic conditions and the inherent soil physical properties. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Produsente wat gebruik maak van bewaringslandboutegnieke maak op planters, wat saad direk in die grond plaas, staat, sonder einge grondbewerkingspraktyke wat vooraf gedoen word. Die meerderheid produsente maak tans van tandplanters gebruik, alhoewel die belangstelling in skyfplanters is besig om te groei. Die doel van die studie was om die invloed van die tipe planter op die grondfisiese eienskappe en gewasprestasie is te bepaal. Die studie is ongeveer 35 km suid van Swellendam uitgevoer, in die Napky-streek van die Suid-Kaap, Suid-Afrika, in die 2018 en 2019 produksieseisoene. Canola (Brassica napus L.), gars (Hordeum vulgare L.) en koring (Triticum aestivum L.) is met drie verskillende planters gevestig. Planters was onderskeidelik met dubbelskyfoopmakers, tandoopmakers of ‘n kombinasie van enkelskyf- en tandoopmakers gemonteer, Grondbrutodigtheid, gravimetriese waterinhoud en versadigde hidroliese geleiding is bepaal om die invloed van die planter op die grondfisiese eienskappe te kwantifiseer. Grondbrutodigtheid en gravimetriese waterinhoud is onderskeidelik 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 dae na planttyd bepaal tot op ‘n diepte van 100 mm, terwyl die hidroliese geleiding slegs 7 en 60 dae na plant bepaal is. Brutodigtheid het statisties tussen die drie planters verskil (p < 0.05), veral kort nadat die plantaksie plaasgevind het. ’n Neiging dat die gravimetriese waterinhoud hoër was in die saadvore waar grondversteuring minimaal was (met behulp van die dubbelskyfplanter), is waargeneem. Onversadigde hidroliese geleiding het wisselende resultate in die eerste seisoen getoon. ’n Verskeidenheid gewasfaktore is oor die loop van die groeiseisoene gemeet. Saadplasing is verskeie kere bepaal na opkoms om ‘n gemiddelde plantdiepte vir elke gewas- en planterkombinasie te kon bereken. Saailinge is ongeveer elke vier dae getel om te bepaal wat die tempo van gewasopkoms en -oorlewing is. Biomassaproduksie is onderskeidelik 30, 60, 90, 120 en 150 dae na plant bepaal. Teen die einde van die seisoen is die opbrengskomponente bepaal om ‘n potensiële opbrengs vir koring en gars te bereken. Saadplasing was die akkuraatste met die tandplanter (p < 0.05). Die direkte invloed van plantdiepte op saailingopkoms en -oorlewing was egter nie duidelik nie. Gars- en koringpopulasies het nie tussen die verskillende planters verskil nie (p > 0.05). Canola plantpopulasie was wel laer waar die dubbelskyfplanter gebruik is. Verhoogde biomassaproduksie (p < 0.05) is aan die einde van die groeiseisoene waargeneem waar die skyfplanter gebruik was om gewasse te vestig. Die tipe planter en die oopmaker wat daarmee geassosieer word, beinvloed grondfisiese eienskappe en gewasprestasie tot verskillende mates, afhangende van die heersende klimaatstoestande en die inherente grondfisiese eienskappe. | af_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Masters | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | xvi, 125 leaves : illustrations (some color) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/108050 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Soils -- Density | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Conservation agriculture | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Drills (Planting machinery) | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Crops -- Quality | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Soils -- Quality | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Soils -- Moisture | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Arid regions agriculture -- South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Seed-drills | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Crops -- Yields | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | UCTD | en_ZA |
| dc.title | The influence of seed-drill choice on soil physical properties and crop performance in a semi-arid production region of South Africa | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |