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Crop and soil response to subsoil loosening, deep incorporation of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and subsequent soil management on a range of soil types.: Part 2: Soil structural conditions
Author(s) -
Soane G.C.,
Godwin R.J.,
Marks MJ.,
Spoor G.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1987.tb00721.x
Subject(s) - subsoil , environmental science , agronomy , bulk density , soil structure , soil compaction , fertilizer , soil water , water content , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , biology
. In a series of experiments on 16 sites both a power‐driven rotary‐tine Wye Double Digger and a rigid tine winged subsoiler produced significant subsoil loosening and fissuring. The Double Digger consistently produced the greatest clod breakdown together with the least soil bulk densities and cone penetration resistances. Management strategies after loosening had an important influence on the longevity of the loosening effect. The rate of recompaction was least with controlled traffic and bed systems and increased with random traffic and with the growing of root crops. No significant differences in crop response were monitored between the two loosening treatments, yield response depending largely on the extent of moisture stress experienced by the crop. Loosening on silty soils reduced yields in wet seasons and this was associated with soil structural instability. Visual soil profile examination is necessary to support bulk density and cone penetration resistance measurements when assessing soil compaction.