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Characterization of Sugar Beet Seedbed Structure
Author(s) -
Aubertot J.N.,
Dürr C.,
Kiêu K.,
Richard G.
Publication year - 1999
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/sssaj1999.6351377x
Subject(s) - seedbed , seeder , loam , aggregate (composite) , seeding , mathematics , soil science , agronomy , materials science , environmental science , sowing , composite material , soil water , biology
Little information is available on the distribution and shape of aggregates or their spatial arrangement within seedbeds, although it influences crop emergence. The aim of this study was to obtain quantitative information on seedbed structure by sampling soil layers, sieving, surface photographs, and stereological analysis of embedded sample sections. Seedbeds prepared with a combined implement (spring tine cultivator and rollers) in a silt loam soil (Typic Hapludalf) with two seeders (K and Pl) on plowed (P), not plowed (NP), and not plowed and compacted (NPC) plots, were analyzed. Aggregates were described by measurements of L , l , h , the longest, intermediate and shortest axes and visually classified according to their surface roughness (smooth, 0; to rough, 4). The D fitting parameter of the power‐law aggregate size distribution after seeding was significantly smaller (3.4) on NPC than on the other plots (3.8–4.0). The aggregate aspect ratios ( l / L and h / L ) did not vary with aggregate size or plot, their overall means were 0.77 and 0.55 respectively. Aggregates of roughness classes >2 were 28 to 32% on NPC and NP plots, compared with 74% on P plot. Seeders reduced the number of aggregates >10 mm by one‐third compared with the values before seeding. Seeder K placed over 60% of the aggregates > 20 mm on the soil surface. Aggregates were uniformly distributed across the row by K seeder and away from the center of the row by Pl seeder. The information obtained will be used in a computerized seedbed generator.