Effect of seedbed preparation methods on yield and yield components of forage maize under double cropping

The seedbed preparation and cereal residue present due to limit of maize (Zea mays L.) growing period are a major challenge in double cropping after winter cereals in Iran as: Shahrekord. In this research, effects of various seedbed preparation methods and crop residuea managements on vegetative growth and yield of forage maize (KSC 704) were studied in a barley-maize double cropping during 2008 in the Agricultural Research Field, Shahrekord University. Three residue management treatments including standing, partly removed and burning along with five tillage systems (moldboard+disk; chisel+disk; moldboard; chisel and furrower as the reduced tillage) were laid out in a split-block design with three replications. The results showed that although burning treatment had maximum of leaf number, plant height, leaves weight, ear weight and forage yield, but there was no significant difference with partly removed residue treatment. Residue treatments had no significant effect on number of ear per plant, stem diameter, stem weight and forage yield. Although, moldboard+disk treatment had the highest leaf area index, leaves weight, ear weight and forage yield, but there was no significant difference with moldboard treatment for all measured characteristics except leaf area index. There was no significant interaction between residue management and tillage treatments for all the measured characteristics. The results of this research indicated that using of moldboard in the case of partly removed residue would be appropriate seedbed preparation method in a barley-maize double cropping.