Premium
Traffic‐induced compaction in maize, cowpea and soya bean production on a tropical alfisol after ploughing and no‐tillage: Soil physical properties
Author(s) -
Kayambo Benedict,
Lal Rattan,
Mrema Geofrey C.
Publication year - 1986
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.2740371004
Subject(s) - alfisol , compaction , plough , soil compaction , bulk density , seedbed , tillage , penetrometer , agronomy , environmental science , porosity , soil science , soil water , geology , geotechnical engineering , sowing , biology
An experiment was conducted over three consecutive seasons during 1982 and 1983 with the objective of evaluating the effects of traffic‐induced compaction on soil physical properties of an Alfisol for no‐till and ploughed systems. Main treatments of the split plot design consisted of disc ploughing to a depth of 200 mm followed by harrowing compared with no‐seedbed preparation. Compaction treatments of none, two and four passes of a 2‐tonne roller were the sub‐plots. The roller was 60 cm in diameter, 180 cm long, with a contact area of 0.1729 m 2 and was pulled by a 33.6 kW tractor. Compaction treatments were applied 2 to 3 days before seeding. Four passes increased the penetrometer resistance of the soil surface, and bulk density; and as a result there were significant reductions in total porosity, saturated hydralic conductivity, infiltration rate and the amount of water released between 0.1 and 100 kPa suctions. Two passes of the roller had small and non‐significant effects on soil properties. The effects of vehicular traffic in terms of increasing soil compaction became progressively severe with repeated compaction in subsequent seasons. Compaction affected soil properties in the 0–100 mm depth layer only, and was more evident following ploughing than following no‐tillage systems.