Studies in soil cultivation: VII. The effect of cultivation on crop yield

Abstract

1. Wheat, barley or mangolds gave nearly the same yield if grown on seed beds prepared by ploughing and harrowing, by using the grubber or cultivator and harrowing and by using the Rototiller, provided that the cultivators were used for one year only. If used for several years in succession deterioration of yield sometimes sets in, possibly due to the increased weediness of the non-ploughed plots.2. There was no advantage in ploughing deeper than 4 in. but it is advantageous to use the grubber of Rototiller deeper.3. The effect of cross-ploughing, subsoiling or heavy rolling the seed bed for spring-sown crops was without effect on the yield.4. Spring rolling and harrowing improved the yield of winter wheat but had little effect on the yield of straw. Rolling alone may have produced a slightly increased yield of grain but it improved the straw yield while harrowing depressed the straw yield.5. There was strong evidence that intensive hoeing of sugar-beet or kale is detrimental. Two to three hoeings appear to be ample.