Soybean Agronomic Performance and Soil Physical Attributes Under Tractor Traffic Intensities

Abstract

Machinery traffic intensification has been recurrent in intensive agriculture in annual crops, which may lead to structural soil degradation and, consequently, a reduction of its productive capacity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of tractor traffic intensification on soil physical attributes and soybean yield components. The study was performed in an Oxisol under no-tillage for 10 years, using a randomized block design with five tractor traffic intensities (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 passes) and five replications. Density, porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, and penetration resistance were assessed in the soil and stem diameter, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, grain weight per plant, thousand-grain weight, and grain yield were assessed in the soybean crop. Tractor traffic intensification changed soil physical attributes, which were not limiting factors to soybean yield under the no-tillage system, providing higher stem diameter, number of pods per plant, grain weight per plant, and grain yield after 12 passes.

Variabilidade espacial da resistência do solo à penetração em áreas cultivadas com cana-de-açúcar sob diferentes tempos de colheita mecanizada com tráfego controlado-de-açúcar sob colheita mecanizada com tráfego controlado

“…The MRSP presents lower values in the planting rows, with FC having lower penetration resistance in both positions than TC. The results presented in this study show similarity with those obtained by Arcoverde et al (2020), who verified an increase in soil bulk density according to the machine traffic, finding soil bulk density averages between 1.36 and 1.50 Mg m -3 . It is also important to note that Bd is not very sensitive to the effects of traffic, so in some cases, the pressure exerted by machinery cannot modify it (Savioli et al, 2020).…”

Evaluation of tractor traffic on soil physical properties and their relationship with white oat yield in no-tillage

“…These results corroborate those shown by ARCOVERDE et al (2020), who, in studying a dystroferric Red Latosol in a no-tillage system, observed similar density values in the same soil layers, restraining soybean grain productivity, therefore suggesting, according to the same authors, that surface soil compaction that does not restrict root growth can benefit crop production.…”

“…This shows that the increase in the number of tractor passes in a consolidated no-tillage system does not always result in an increase in compaction and reduction of soil structural quality, and even intermediate soil densification may benefit the productivity of crops (ARCOVERDE et al 2020, ARCOVERDE et al 2022, SUZUKI et al 2007). According to ARCOVERDE et al (2022), the intermediate densification in the 0.00-0.10 m layer, likely to have increased the volume of pores responsible for storing water in a voltage available for the plants.…”

“…A 0.5 Mg mass mower was attached to the tractor's three-point hydraulic system to ensure additional compaction states, corresponding to 7.28 Mg of mass on the ground in each tractor pass. The front and rear tire contact pressures applied to the ground were 113 and 109 kPa, respectively, determined as described by ARCOVERDE et al (2020), using the method proposed by O' SULLIVAN et al (1999).…”

“…On November 21, 2018, the soybean sowing was carried out by removing the furrower of the seederfertilizer so as not to eliminate the tractor passes effect, using only the cutting disk of the seed metering device, following the recommendations of ARCOVERDE et al (2020).…”