Conservation tillage and traffic effects on soil condition

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Transactions of the ASAE

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.28138· OSTI ID:102740

Raper, R L; Reeves, D W; Burt, E C ^[1]; Torbert, H A ^[2]

---

1. USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Auburn, AL (United States)
2. USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Temple, TX (United States)

The soil condition resulting from a five-year cotton-wheat double cropping experiment in a sandy loam Coastal Plain soil was investigated using intensive measurements of cone index and dry bulk density. Four tillage treatments including a strip-till (no surface tillage with in-row subsoiling) conservation tillage practice were analyzed. The traffic was controlled in the experimental plots with the USDA-ARS Wide-Frame Tractive Vehicle. Besides the environmental benefits of maintaining the surface residue, the strip-till treatment decreased cone index directly beneath the row, decreased surface bulk density, increased surface moisture content, decreased energy usage, and increased yields. Controlled traffic was beneficial only when in-row subsoiling was not used as an annual tillage treatment. Although differences in soil condition were seen beneath the row middles where traffic occurred, this did not affect the soil condition directly beneath the row. 16 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 102740
• Journal Information: Transactions of the ASAE, Journal Name: Transactions of the ASAE Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 37; ISSN TAAEAJ; ISSN 0001-2351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AGRICULTURE
COMPACTING
COTTON PLANTS
CULTIVATION
DENSITY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FARM EQUIPMENT
LOAM
MOISTURE
PENETROMETERS
SOILS
WHEAT