the effects of tillage practice on yam production

8/11/2019 The Effects of Tillage Practice on Yam production

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In recent years, yam is becoming expensive and respectively unaffordable by

many Nigerians production has not kept pace with population growth and demand

exceeds supply.

Consumers are turning more and more less expensive cassava, even though

they prefer yam to cassava, there are indication that yam have great prospect of

contributing to the alleviation of projected food deficit in Africa in the !stCentury

effort was made to identify and overcome the constraints of production out of

many species of yam grown in "est Africa six species are recogni#ed for

commercial purpose they are$ % &ioscorca 'otunda (white yam), &iscorea (yellow

yam), &ioscorea Alata ("ater yam), &iscorea *sculenta (Chinese yam &iscorea

+ulbinfern (Aerial yam).

aximum yield of yam to obtain number of farming operation have to

embarked upon which can be classified as pre%planting operations among all the

pre%planting operation listed above, tillage is considered to be very important for

maximum yield of yam. -illage is the act or process of cultivating land. It is

generally done with simple form tools like hoes, cutlass, axe etc. or by

mechanically using tractors driving mound, board disc plough.

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-illage operation whether mechani#ed or non%mechani#ed proper

development and growth of crops in order to obtain expected yield this work seek

to reemphasi#ed the essence of tillage operation and the potential yield of yam to

redirect and oriented the pope development and of crop resulting to the high yield

to support the populace.

Types of Tillage

1. Non tillage or zero tillage:

-his is a procedure whereby a planting is made directly unto an unprepared

seeds bed.

. Priary Tillage$

-his operation is performed to open and cultivate land with the point of

view to prepared a seed bed for primary tillage are called primary tillage

implement drawn with either animals or tractors. +ullock drown

implement mostly involve indigenous plough or mould board plough, sub

soil plough so on.

. !e"on#ary Tillage$

/ighter and final operation performed on the soil are called secondary

tillage this consist conditioning the soil to meet savanna soil tillage has the

much wider objectives these is in addition to weed cannot include the

modification of the physical state of then still within the rooting depth of

the crops and under system of continuous cropping of high production,

tillage is an integrated part of the soil management to control the safe

disposal of the surplus run%off water and protection of land against

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excessive soil erosion power cultivation using drop animals or tractors in

an yet informally but its strongly encourage by the "est Africa government

as an effective means for the improving and the tilling standard and the

food production.

Aiyegboyo (00!), sand that, plough is a means of filling the soil by using the

hoe, in modern agriculture either disc plough or the mould board plough is an

implement attached to be pulled by the tractor. 1loughing generally helps to the

control of weed as also to burry resides, sloughing the surface is turned into deeper

portion of soil called sub%soil weed too are turn into unable to grow sloughing help

to break up soil. -he mould this is improves the creation of the soil. -he mould

board plough deeper than a disc plough which is best on the rocky soil during

sloughing the surface is the leveled and this helps to minimi#e soil erosion. 2lough

help the plant to tend the land for harvest operation which is to be carried out after

cropping harrow. -his is the implement help to the complete the work of the

plough by the baking up and any large or the duds still remaining.

'idging are usually made across the farming some of rain water to prevent it

from farming a stream which can wash away the opt soil is scope pump to ridge a

greater depth wound be available for seed or plant it they were planted on the level

ground, this gives them a larger area for their root system and conse3uently, a more

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abundant supply of the plant foods. 'idging is used in a high rainfall area where

erosion is their problem, and it is also used where stem tuber are to be planted.

Akinsanmi (!456), explain that is a crops as living plant cannot survive

without air the extent to which air incorporated in the soil depend on the nature of

fre3uency of tillage. -he soil for good, such beds and easily aeration for air

penetration into the soil to enable microbial, macro and micro activities. -he

different tillage objectives of the farm the implement used for this purpose are

came secondary tillage implements. -hey include harrows, cultivators, valleys and

clod crashed etc. secondary tillage done on the farm does not cause much inverse

and shifting of soil from one place to another.

$ini% tillage:

-his refers to minimum manipulation necessary for crop production or formatting

tillage reground under existing soil condition.

Iportan"e of Tillage

"hen tillage operation is done, it add humus and fertility to the soil because the

vegetation and the manure are covered, the vegetation decays to release nutrient to

the soil which assist the crop in growing. -illage plays a big role in decaying and

preventing weed growth, because they are or covered been suppressed or covered

by the soil. 7btaining a seed bed of a good tilt is another function of tillage

operation. -illage help in leaving in soil condition there air micro organisms get

into the soil activities one encore aged. &igging the spoil as a tillage operation

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-his research is also significant and will be of important to the students of

Crop production technology and the agriculturalist at large

1. !"ope an# )iitation of t/e !t%#y

-he research work covers only "ukari /ocal 9overnment Area of -araba

1tate and was centered on the effects of tillage on the potential yields of yam. -he

research is limited to time, lack of finance, transportation, and inability of the

respondents to give accurate information pertaining the research 3uestionnaires.

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CHAPTER T'O

&.0 )ITERATURE RE2IE'

Anyawu et al(!4 alata, &iscorea cayanensis, &iscorea > buifera, &iscorea >

esculenta. -hat is the most cultivated yam in "est Africa.

Clouseen (!446), wrote that, the goal for tillage is to promote a suitable

environment for seed germination and root growth and to control weeds. 'esearch

on the topic soil has shown that tillage is only useful to control weeds.

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@erguson (00), report that for this reason, planting of yam is invariable

preceded by tillage operation whose aim is to loosen the soil, this true even in

traditional yam production.

+ur hill (!446), said on the basis of type of tillage, four general method of

yam planting exist > planting on mounds in holes, on ridges, or on flat. -he former

two methods are peculiar to traditional peasant farm production, while the two are

characteristic of improved, partially mechani#ed agricultures.

/al and ahn (!444), wrote that the planting of yam on flat is preceded by

plough and harrowing. After that the yam are planted in rows on the unridge land.

A hoe is used to open up the soil the seed is then inserted, and then it is covered

over with soil. In this regard, it resembles planting in holes, except that the soil was

first ploughed and harrowed.

/yonga (!44


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tuber per plant, and the mot uniformly shaped tubers, are obtainable from planting

> since the soil is loose, the tuber is able to penetrate without any hindrance.

7yolu (00!), too has emphasi#ed that it is critical to avoid conditions of

drought in the field between the fourteen and twentieth weeks, a period during

which vigorous tuber bulking is occurring. Needless to say, the yam farmer is

interested in yield, and not just the survival of his plant till the seasonBs and it is

therefore imperative that drought condition be avoided in the field throughout the

season.

"aitt (!444), however, within the limits set by its genetic make%up, tuber

shape can be influence by certain external factors. 1oil structure is a major

determinant of tuber shape, if the tuber encounter a hard%pan during its own ward

penetration, its tail portion tends to becomes broader and more amorphous.

7koli (00:), emphasi#ed that planting of yam on mound is by the most

common practice in traditional agriculture. *ssentially, the top soil is gathered into

more or less conical heaps at various parts in the field. African hoes with wide

blades are used for this purpose. -he si#e of each mound (heap) the mean distance

between mounds, and numbers of yam stands planted on each mound very from

place to place, but in general, the bigger the mounds, the greater the distance

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between mound, and the greater the number of setts that may be planted on the

mound.

7nwueme (!444), a factor which may contribute to high yield of mound

grown plants in that the process of mound making collects the rich top soil of the

entire field into heaps on which the yam is planted. As such, the entire depth of the

mound consists of fertile soil, rich in organic matter, and most of the yam root are

in this #one. In the normal unmolded soil, only the top few centimeters, of the

rooting #one would have such facility.

=inman (!44


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;. It loosens the soil structure and allows income of air and the water for the

use of plant roots.

6. -illing check weed growth by cutting the rhi#ome of weed like impetrate,

cylindrical spear grass into smaller pieces, also many seed of weed are

been burned in the soil.

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CHAPTER THREE

,.0 RE!EARCH $ETHODO)O*3

,.1 Intro#%"tion

2urpose of data collection on the topic, several methods were employed to

gather the point of views to respondents8 the uses included personal contact with

grassroots farmers, home visits both large and small scale farmers, also bulletin

from recogni#ed institution were consulted to know the scope at which some of

those tillage operations could be utili#ed and how they were utili#ed to achieve

greater objectives.

-he presentation has been arranged under the following headings$%

"here and when the data was collected, method of data collection, the sample

procedure, problems encountered during the data collection and the methods of

data analysis.

,.& '/ere an# 4/en t/e #ata 4as "olle"te#

-he data collected for this report was carried out in -araba 1tate from !6 th

ay to 6th1eptember 0!.

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,., $et/o# of Data Colle"tion

i. Personal Conta"t52isit$ 1ince this tend to enable the researcher to seek for

the experience of the both large and small scale farmers on tillage operation.

2ersonal contact or visit was made to get information from farmers who

cannot read and write and some farmers who felt that, they have no time to

fill the 3uestionnaires.

ii. T/e Use of E6tension 'or(ers as Anot/er $et/o# for Colle"tion of t/e

Re7%ire# Data$ -he extension workers serve as the change agent to the

farmers because they educate farmers on the modern methods of farming.

Contacts were made with the extension workers to in3uire relevant

information about farmers. In the area in respect of the tillage effects on the

potential yield of the yam.

iii. 8%estionnaires$ -he design and administration of 3uestionnaires was

another method used. -his enables researchers sample opinions of the

various categories of the farmers and to make general analysis to the actual

finding researcher.

,. !apling Pro"e#%re

7ut of the seven (5) districts in the study area is only four (;) were chosen

for the study, due to limited time and find available the four (;) districts chosen for

their data collection were as follows$ 'afin%kada, one hundred (!00) farmers were

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read%only selected and served with copies of the 3uestionnaire for their respond on

how tillage affects yam yield. -wenty five (6) copies of the 3uestionnaire were

distributed to each district out of one honored (!00) 3uestionnaire eighty (


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A lot of problems were encountered during the process of the study. ust of

the farmers kept no records during the process hence some of the information

given was based on assumption while some figures were eliminated. -here was

limited time and lack of money to pay for materials production administered

3uestionnaires and for materials produced. Administered 3uestionnaires and

gathering information from various sources.

,.= Data Analysis

-he data collected for this study were analy#ed and presented using

percentage and the fre3uency table

"here DE Number in group

FE Number of respondents

CHAPTER ;OUR

.0 RE!U)T AND DI!CU!!ION

.1 Distri-%tion of respon#ents on age

Age years No. of respon#ents Per"entage

0%0 < 6

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9!%60 ;6 6:%6

7ver 60 5 9?

0%0 < 6

!%60 ;6 6:%6

7?*' 60 5


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ale ;!.:6,0< ;:

@emale ; 4 ! 50 64

Total = ,

!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

-able indicate that :6.


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. Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing to t/e et/o# of t/e tillage a#opte#

$et/o# %se# No of respon#ents Per"entage

-ractor !: 6.;0

anual 6 66.667x%drown ! !4.06

Total =, 100

!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

-able 6 shows that out of the sixty three (:) dependents that adopter tillage

6.;0 and !4.06 father reveals that more than half of the tillage is done

manually waste a lot of time only ;.;0 make use of the tractors which saves

time while !4.06 used ox%drown method of tillage. -his shows that tractors

tillage operation. 9ive more vigor process of crop with high yield than the

manually and ox%drown methods..

.= Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing to lan# ten%re syste

an# tillage

)an# ten%re syste A#option No >9? Non a#opters No Total

7wned by farmer ;Total =, 100 @@ 100 09

!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

-able : reveals that 5:.!4 the farmer that adopt tillage practice

owned their land while the remaining .

showed that 50.64 of the non%adoption of the tillage owned there from land

while 4.;! are tenants

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.@ Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing to far size an# a#option of tillage

;ar A#option No 9 Non a#option Total

ectares 0 !.56 ! !6 ;5

!% !6

%; ! 0 : 0 0 !

6%: !0 !6

P%rpose A#option no >9? Nona#option

no >9?

Per"entage

Consumption 6 65 !; !! :; 5! ;5

1ale < !. 50 !!. 5< !0+oth !4 0 !: ; 6

Total =, 100 1@ 100 09

!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

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-able < shows that out of the respondents the adoption tillage

operation 65.!; produced yams for the purpose of consumption !.50

of the yam produced are sale while 0 !: produce are sale and

consumption. -he adopter had :;.5! and !!.5: and .6 for the

purpose of consumption sale and both.

-he table further shows that more half of the respondents forty seven

(;5) out of sixty three (:) produced yams for consumption while ten (!0)

farmers produced yams for both sale and consumption

.B Distri-%tion of Respon#ents A""or#ing to $et/o# of 3a !torage

$et/o# of storage A#option Non a#option Total

-raditional ;4 55.5< !00 !00 ::

odern !; 0 0 !;

-otal : !00 !00 !00


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!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

-able !0 shows that

married.

.11Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing to far reason 4/y soe farers

#oes not till t/eir lan#

Reasons No Per"entage 9

/acks of money !!.6


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-able ! reveal that all the farmers that adopt tillage uses fertili#er while for

the non%tillage adopter ;5.00 use fertili#er and 6. 4; doesnBt use fertili#er

.1, Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing it /o4 4ee# is -een "ontrolle#

$et/o# A#option Nona#opter Total

anual !5 : !< !0 4; !

erbicides ;: 5.0 ! 6.


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-ake it to the market 60 54.5 !! :; 5! :!

2eople come to buy ! 0.: : 6.4 !4

Total =, 100 1@ 100 09

!o%r"e: ;iel# !%r+ey< &01.

-able !6 reveal that out of the eighty (


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.1@ Distri-%tion of respon#ents a""or#ing to if t/ey 4is/ to e6pan# t/eir

fars

Option A#option Nona#opter Total"illing expand 64 4 :6 !!.5: :!

Non willing to expand ; :.6 !6 three (:) respondents that adopt

utili#e :.6! are suggesting to the government that more tractor re3uires for tillage

operation in the while :(:.;4) are urging government to tillage the rise cost

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tractor so that they can continue practice tillage in the case of the non%adopted of

the tillage operation 6.4; are of the views that effectors made by the

government to enlighten them about the significant of tillage is not yet to reduce

.6 are asking the government to reduce the rise price of tractors so that they too

can afford to till their form land while the remaining .6 are pleasing on the

government to assist them with tractors free for tillage operation in their form.

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still believe in tradition method of tillage while some farmer are yet to be aware

of the benefit of the tillage.

., Re"oen#ation

*xtension services should be made efficient to tell the farmer with the

importance of tillage mass literacy campaign should be encourage with the point

view of educating the farmers so as to make extension work cashier farmers should

be used the importance of collecting and filling 3uestionnaires accurately by the

government. odern methods of storage should be encourage by the government

credit facilities through bank and co%operation should be made available to the

farmers entire benefit

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Referen"es

Akinsanmi 7. (!45 Ibadan.

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7koli 7.7 (!456) yam production from seed prospect and problems Nigeria

7nwueme. I. C (!45) the 2oultry process in yam (discorea spp) tuber pierces ,

Agricultural science in pueto rico agric exp

7yolu C. (!4:!) in Nigeria a true agricultural country trop root crop Ibadan

Nigeria.

1ammy 9. N (!45) the status of root crop research at the Gniversity of west India

1t Augustine. -rop root Ibadan Nigeria.

"aitt. A. " (!4:!) yams rep dept Agric 'esearch Nigeria

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APPENDI I

&epartment of crop science,

College of agriculture,

2..+ !06,

-araba 1tate.

&earest 'espondents,

I am a final year student of the above named institution department,

undertaking research on the topic J*ffect of tillage on the potential yields of yam

in "ukari /ocal 9overnment AreaK of -araba state.

I solicit your cooperation to supply me with the necessary information

needed by the 3uestionnaire. All the information supplied shall be treated

confidentially towards achieving the goal of the project.

-hanks,

Fours faithfully

artha /uka amman

'eg.No$ 0!H0!H!!;

the effects of tillage practice on yam production

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