Abstract

Soil compaction, especially subsoil compaction, in agricultural fields has increased due to widespread use of heavy machines and intensification of vehicular traffic. Subsoil compaction changes the relative distribution of roots between soil layers and may restrict root development to the upper part of the soil profile, limiting water and mineral availability. This study investigated the direct effects of inter-row subsoiling, biological subsoiling and a combination of these two methods on soil penetration resistance, root length density, nitrogen uptake and yield. In field experiments with potatoes in 2013 and 2014, inter-row subsoiling (subsoiler) and biological subsoiling (preceding crops) were studied as two potential methods to reduce soil penetration resistance. Inter-row subsoiling was carried out post planting and the preceding crops were established one year, or in one case two years, prior to planting. Soil resistance was determined with a penetrometer three weeks after the potatoes were planted and root length density was measured after soil core sampling 2 months after emergence. Nitrogen uptake was determined in haulm (at haulm killing) and tubers (at harvest). Inter-row subsoiling had the greatest effect on soil penetration resistance, whereas biological subsoiling showed no effects. Root length density (RDL) in the combined treatment was higher than in the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments and the control, whereas for the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments, RLD was higher than in the control. Nitrogen uptake increased with inter-row subsoiling and was significantly higher than in the biological subsoiling and control treatments. However, in these experiments with a good supply of nutrients and water, no yield differences between any treatments were observed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Soil penetration resistance; Inter-row subsoiling; Biological subsoiling; Root length density; N uptake; Potato yield

Published in

European Journal of Agronomy
2016, Volume: 80, pages: 55-65
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Guamán, Victor

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Båth, Birgitta

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hagman, Jannie

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Persson, Paula

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.06.014

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/82850