3.2. Maize parameters
Maize emergence rate (seed-ER) was more sensitive than maize
height to the tillage effects during the trial period (Table 3;
P < 0.05). The percentages of emergence rate were decreased by
16.2% in NT and 14.1% in RT compared to CT (Table 3). Maize yields
varied over years (Fig. 1). The bad harvests were observed in
2005 and 2007, which the average yields across treatments were
below 9000 kg ha1. The long-term average yields (2002–2013)
were higher in both NT (4.4%) and RT (4.8%) than in CT (Table 3;
P < 0.05).