Impact of Different Tillage Systems on Soil Dehydro genase Activity and Spring Wheat Infection

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the Experimental Sta tion (Brody) belonging to Poznan University of Life Sciences (NE Poland). The purpos e was to evaluate the impact of different tillage systems and white mustard cover c rop on soil enzymatic activity and severity of plant infection by pathogenic fungi in spring wheat. A randomized complete block design was set up with four replicates per tr eatment (conventional and no-tillage with and without cover crop). The results demonstra ted higher enzyme activity in the soil treated post wheat harvest with herbicide Glyphosat e at the rate of 4.0 L ha -1 , 360 g L -1 ai, [ N -(phosphonomethyl) glycine] with adjuvant AS 500 SL 1.5 L ha -1 of the stubble, white mustard cover crop in direct sowing. Less activity was observed during spring time application of Glyphosate at the rate of 1.5 L ha -1 +adjuvant AS 500 SL 1.5 L ha -1 , followed by direct sowing of spring wheat. The main objectiv e of this study was to evaluate the effects of tillage system and cover crop on soil de hydrogenase activity and plant health of spring wheat. Conducted investigation showed that t here was no significant impact of the tillage system or left biomass on the eyespot ( Oculimacula acuformis ) and brown foot root ( Fusarium sp.) diseases. Only with take-all ( Gaumannomyces graminis var. tritici ) there was significant impact of soil tillage system on th e percentage of infected plants. During the tillering stage of the spring wheat significant ly higher enzyme activities were observed on the treatment with cover crop and spring wheat c ultivation in no tillage technology. Keywords : Activity, Conventional tillage, Cover crop, Disea ses, No-tillage, Soil.