THE EFECTS OF NO-TILL FARMING SYSTEM AND SOIL MULCHING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CORN VARIETY VS71 IN SLOPPING LAND AT YEN BAI PROVINCE

Abstract

Study the effects of no-till farming system and soil mulching on growth and yield of corn variety VS71 has been carried out in the two continuous crop seasons: Spring - Summer and Summer -Auturm season of 2017 at Van Yen district, Yen Bai province. The objective of the study was to identify appropriate cultivation methods to increase corn yield, limit erosion, and increase soil fertility. The two factorial experiment with 9 treatments was layed out, in which mulching materials by using corn stem is the main factorial (with 3 level D1, D2, D3) and no-till systems (with 3 levels: S1, S2, S3). Results indicated that mulching by (4 tons of mulching materials ha^-1) reduced soil loss from erosion. Applications of no-till farming system and soil mulching have not affected on growth duration of corn variety VS71 in slopping land at Yen Bai. In addition, this method has increased plant height, yield components and consequently, it increased crop yield compared to traditional practice. The treatment S2D3 (with no ploughing, slitting line and muclching by 4 tons of mulching materials ha^-1) was more suitable to growing of corn variety VS71 in slopping land at Van Yen district, Yen Bai province.