Application of a Knowledge-based Decision Support Model for Soil Tilth Assessment

The objective of this article is to apply a developed knowledge-based decision support model for soil tilth assessment, based on the "tilth index", to help to select the suitable implement for conducting tillage operation. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized design with a strip-plot arrangement, and three replications to quantify the effects of four tillage implements (chisel, disc harrow, disc plow, ridging and split ridging, and wide level disc), on soil physical properties, tilth index of seedbed preparation of Sesame crop, in El Seleit Irrigation Scheme in Botana area, during seasons 2018 and 2019. Tillage operation significantly affected soil physical properties showing an increase in soil moisture content, soil porosity, and decrease in soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance. The highest values of moisture content were at wide level disc, and the lowest values were with chisel plow. The highest values of soil bulk density were under disc harrow tillage which was more than chisel strips, and the lowest values were under ridging and wide level disc. The highest values of soil porosity were under chisel plow and at the wide level disc and the lowest values were under disc harrow which was less than chisel strips. The highest values of soil penetration resistance were under the moldboard, and chisel plow and the lowest values were under the moldboard. The tillage methods significantly affected the plant yield. The highest value of Sesame yield was at the disc harrow and the lowest value was at Chisel. It can be concluded that shallow and intermediate tillage treatments along with disc harrow and wide level disc operation were found inferior in improving soil physical properties. Tilth index rank top the non-soil inversion operations.