Plant-water relations,crop growth and grain yield of spring barley in relation to tillage methods

The influence of tillage methods on plant water status was measured in spring barley on a sandy loam soil (Wighill series) in 1976. Three methods of tillage were used: direct drilling, tine cultivation to 12.5 cm depth, and moldboard plowing to 20 cm depth. Soil bulk density was higher in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers of the direct-drilled plots. Soil strength was also higher in the direct-drilled plots to 22.8 cm depth compared with plowed plots, and to 15.2 cm depth compared wiht tine-cultivated plots. Thje only significant effect on soil water content (measured to 90 cm depth) was between 80 and 114 days from planting when extraction from the 0–10 cm depth was greater in the direct-drilled plots compared with the plowed plots, and at 20 cm depth greater in plowed plots than in direct-drilled plots. There were no significant differences between tillage methods in leaf water potential, above-ground dry matter produced, and grain yield.