The Effect of Tillage and Coverage on the Economic Productivity of Barley and Mung Beans in a Gypsiferous Soil

Abstract

In the Lower Al-Jazeera region of western Iraq, a field experiment was conducted at latitude 34° 26' 26'' N and longitude 41° 17' 46'' E, aiming to study the effects of tillage and coverage factors on the production of crops, water, and economic parameters in gypsum soil. Straw was added to the abandoned soil when planting barley in the winter, and then barley residual remained when planting mung beans in the summer. Non-inversion tillage was used in tillage treatments T. The results showed that using the minimum tillage application is relatively better than the non-tillage method in terms of productivity and economy. The covering factor C significantly affected barely and mung bean yield (3096, 2159 kg ha^-1, respectively). Also, C and T's treatments significantly affected the field water productivity WPF. Economically, C treatments in the mung crop obtained an average of 1571266 IQD. hectare-1 as a gross margin, with a 2-time significant difference over NC. Also found superior interference treatments, NT.C and T.C, in weighted mean difference (WMD), which confirms the importance of using tillage at its minimum, with covering using straw or earlier crop residual stays. Notably, the covering factor is more effective than the tillage factor. A cover is necessary in case of non-tillage use.