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The effects of soil compaction on the emergence, growth and yield of sugar beet and peas
Author(s) -
Hebblethwaite Paul D.,
McGowan Michael
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740311103
Subject(s) - sugar beet , sugar , yield (engineering) , agronomy , compaction , soil compaction , growing season , population , field experiment , horticulture , biology , materials science , food science , demography , sociology , metallurgy , composite material
It is generally recognised that soil compaction may decrease yield of sugar beet and peas. The effects of soil surface compaction after drilling on the emergence, growth and yield of sugar beet in 1977–1978 and peas in 1976–1977 were investigated in field experiments. Compaction significantly decreased emergence in both crops and resulted in uneven stands. Root growth early in the season was delayed and final depth of water extraction restricted. At final harvest, yields of roots and sugar in sugar beet and yields of vining peas were reduced by up to 45 and 50%, respectively. The decrease in yield in sugar beet in 1977 was due mainly to decreased population and uneven distribution of plants, rather than the continued direct effects of compaction on individual plants, whereas in 1978 individual plants were also decreased in size. In peas both factors were of similar importance.