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Effects of Subsoiling and Mechanical Impedance on Tobacco Root Growth
Author(s) -
Vepraskas M. J.,
Miner G. S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000020034x
Subject(s) - tillage , penetrometer , plough , root system , soil water , curing of tobacco , mechanical impedance , mathematics , environmental science , horticulture , agronomy , soil science , biology , electrical impedance , electrical engineering , engineering
Relationships between mechanical impedance and root growth have not been extensively defined for field conditions, and as a result, it is usually impossible to know with certainty when soil layers of high mechanical impedance are limiting root growth or where subsoiling is needed to improve root development. The primary objective of this investigation was to describe relationships between mechanical impedance and root concentration for both subsoiled and nonsubsoiled tillage treatments in field studies. Experiments were conducted at three locations in the North Carolina Coastal Plain on soils that were coarse‐textured Typic and Arenic Paleudults with tillage pans. At each site, flue‐cured tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) was grown in subsoiled and nonsubsoiled (moldboard plow/disk) tillage treatments replicated four times. Penetrometer readings were made in the row and 0.30 m to the side of the row at 6‐ to 14‐d intervals for periods of 28 to 42 d; these data were averaged by depth and position and were expressed as mean cone index (CI). At approximately 52 and 75 days following transplanting, roots were counted by the trench‐profile method. At all locations, numbers of roots below the Ap horizon were significantly greater for the subsoiled, as compared to nonsubsoiled treatments for both root count dates. Mean CI was significantly correlated with root concentration in the Ap and E‐B horizons at all locations with r values ranging from −0.79** to −0.88** for both root count dates. The three tillage pans examined had mean CI's between 2.8 to 3.2 MPa. Subsoiling reduced the CI of the tillage pans for up to 47 d from transplanting and permitted significantly greater root penetration of the subsoil.