Effect of Tillage Operations on Soil Moisture Contents in the Southern Guinea Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria
Read full paper at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=54050#.VOBT1izQrzE Author(s) R. M. Olanrewaju 1* , A. S. Abubakar 2 Affiliation(s) 1 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria . 2 Department of Geography, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria . ABSTRACT An experimental farm plot was set up at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), kilometer 12 Ilorin-Idofian Road to investigate the effect of various agronomic operations (mound, ridge and plough tillage) on soil moisture content of varying depth intervals of 0 - 15 cm, 15 - 30 cm, 30 - 45 cm and 45 - 60 cm respectively. The experiment was conducted between year 2007 and 2009. Samples were taken on weekly basis from various depths using hand screw auger. The percentage moisture was determined by oven drying oil sample to a constant weight at the temperature of 105°C. The differ...