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Penetration Resistance, Root Growth, and Water Content in a Subsoiled Claypan 1
Author(s) -
Grecu S. J.,
Kirkham M. B.,
Kanemasu E. T.,
Sweeney D. W.,
Stone L. R.,
Milliken G. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of agronomy and crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-037X
pISSN - 0931-2250
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-037x.1988.tb00656.x
Subject(s) - loam , agronomy , festuca arundinacea , anthesis , sowing , topsoil , dry weight , soil water , biology , environmental science , poaceae , cultivar , soil science
Abstract Penetration resistance, root length density, and water content of soil with maize ( Zea mays L.), soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.), or a mixture of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were measured during two summers, one of which was dry. Plants grew on a silt loam (Mollic Albaqualfs; fine, mixed, thermic), 0.25 m deep overlying a claypan, 1.75 m thick. Half of the plots were subsoiled before planting in the first year of the study and the other half were not subsoiled. During both years, subsoiling had no measurable effect in lowering the penetration resistance in the claypan. Root length density was greater in the claypan than in the topsoil. Subsoiling did not increase root length density in either year. Water content in plots that had been subsoiled was usually similar to that in plots that had not been subsoiled. In the dry year, roots of maize proliferated more in the claypan than did roots of soybean or alfalfa + fescue.