Evaluation of soil compaction as affected by different tillage practices
Loading...
Files
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
A study for evaluating the soil compaction caused by different tillage practices was
undertaken. The independent parameters for the study were two soil types (sandy loam, S1
and silty loam, S2), six different tillage practices (conventional tillage practice as P1, P2,
rotavator practices as P3, P4 and spading machine as P5, P6), two forward velocity ranges
(V1 and V2) and two operation depth ranges (D1 and D2). Replicated (three) trials in factorial
in RBD were adopted for the study. Soil bulk density and cone index values were taken at
selected sampling depths for determining the initial soil compaction i.e before tillage
treatments. Effect of irrigation on soil compaction was also noted at optimum moisture level
after irrigation but before tillage treatments. Cone indices of both types of soils were found
lesser, after irrigation, than that of before irrigation conditions. Bulk density of soil S1 was
higher after irrigation, whereas of soil S2, it was lower than that of before irrigation, before
tillage conditions. Cone indices in both types of soils were observed lesser than that of initial
compaction, in top 10 cm of soil, after different tillage treatments. Cone indices, at sub-soil
depths (at 15 cm and beyond) of both soil types, in P3, P4, P5 and P6 tillage practices were
found to be comparatively more that of initial soil compaction for most of the treatments.
Bulk density was observed lower than that of initial soil compaction for all the treatments in
both soil types. Mean weight diameter of soil clods formed were minimum whereas fuel
consumption (l/h) values were maximum in case of rotavator among all the treatment values.
Description
Keywords
null