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The effect of large applications of pig slurry on the strength of soil under grass
Author(s) -
Stevens R.J.,
Laughlin R.J.,
Logan H.J.,
Gracey H.I.
Publication year - 1988
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.1475-2743.1988.tb00737.x
Subject(s) - penetrometer , slurry , penetration (warfare) , clay soil , zoology , organic matter , soil water , environmental science , soil science , agronomy , environmental engineering , biology , mathematics , ecology , operations research
. The effect of eight years of applications of five rates (0, 134, 269, 538 and 1075 m 3 ha −1 a −1 ) of pig slurry on the soil strength two years later were studied in a field experiment. Soil strength in the 0–150 mm depth was measured on five occasions in winter using a hand‐held recording cone penetrometer. On one occasion the penetration resistance at some depths greater than 100 mm was significantly ( P < 0.001) decreased by adding more than 269 m 3 of slurry ha −1 a −1 . On three occasions different amounts of slurry caused significant differences in the rate of increase of penetration resistance with depth. Large applications of slurry may decrease penetration resistance because they increase organic matter, thereby increasing the water retention of the soil.