The effect of controlled traffic on soil physical properties and tillage requirements for vegetable production

McPhee, John; Aird, Peter; Hardie, M; Corkrey, Ross

doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.12.018

Cited by 32 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…These changes indicate a higher-water availability in the plots with agricultural traffic, as a result of the change in the frequency of the pore size distribution (Figure 3 B). This shows that changes in pore geometry and higher-water availability under conditions of trafficked soil (McPhee et al, 2015) result in improvements in the physical conditions of this Typic Paleudult cropped with corn. The soil preparation systems changed neither the water retention curve at 5-10 cm soil depth (Figure 3 C) nor the pore frequency nor the pore distribution of the soil (Figure 3 D).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…The main effects of soil compaction caused by excessive agricultural traffic are the increase of soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance and, consequently, the reduction of total porosity (McPhee et al, 2015), macroporosity (Dal Ferro et al, 2014), soil-water storage (Moraes et al, 2016a) and crop root growth (Bengough, 2012). However, it is not yet known whether agricultural traffic in sandy soils, which have a large volume of macropores, could be beneficial to plants by reducing pore size and altering water retention in these soils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil compaction by agricultural traffic occurs with the first pass of the machine (Moraes et al, 2013); however, the greatest subsurface compaction problems caused by agricultural traffic are the result of the machines axle load (Keller et al, 2014), and by the accumulation of the number of passes over the same area (Moraes et al, 2013). Studies on controlled traffic to reduce the compaction levels of agricultural areas have been conducted in different soil types, such as in Latossolo Vermelho (Oxisol) in Brazil (Girardello et al, 2014), and in Australia (McPhee et al, 2015), where soils are clayey and highly susceptible to compaction by machine traffic (Moraes et al, 2013). However, there are few works undertaken in sandy soils that naturally have a high macroporosity (Mazurana et al, 2013), in which a possible reduction of aeration porosity would be beneficial to increase the amount of micropores responsible for water retention in the soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Corn crop performance in an Ultisol compacted by tractor traffic

Moraes

Levien

Trein

et al. 2018

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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-The objective of this work was to determine whether compaction by tractor traffic in areas managed under controlled traffic can be limiting to corn crop, under different tillage systems, in a Typic Paleudult of medium texture. Two experiments were carried out, one in the field over two crop seasons and another in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of minimum tillage with chiselling; no-tillage subjected to one, three, or six passes of a tractor weighing 3.8 Mg; and an area without traffic. Evaluations were performed for soil physicohydraulic parameters (soil bulk density, penetration resistance, and water retention curve), root and shoot growth, and grain yield. The agricultural traffic increased bulk density, soil penetration resistance, and water content at field capacity. The highest values for soil penetration resistance (1,600 kPa) and bulk density (1.67 g cm ) in the trafficked soil were not limiting to corn development and increased grain yield for both crop seasons. Tractor traffic of up to six passes is beneficial to corn cultivation, and it increases water availability and corn grain yield.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Corn crop performance in an Ultisol compacted by tractor traffic

Moraes

Levien

Trein

et al. 2018

Pesq. agropec. bras.

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“…CTF has demonstrated an increase in crop yield related to random traffic farming. Advantages can be significant in root and bulb crop systems for instance potatoes, onions and sugar beet (Gasso et al, 2013;McPhee et al, 2015). The present work is focused on sugar beet, with the aim of analyzing the subsoil compaction during the growing period of sugar beet with different farming approaches: controlled traffic passages and random traffic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traffic effects on soil compaction and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) taproot quality parameters

Marinello

Pezzuolo

Cillis

et al. 2017

Span. j. agric. res.

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Soil compaction is a critical issue in agriculture having a significant influence on crop growth. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is accounted as a crop susceptible to compaction. Reduction of leaf area, final yield, and root quality parameters are reported in compacted soils. The most obvious visual indicator of topsoil compaction is root depth affected by agricultural tractor and machinery traffic up on the soil. Such indicators are mainly correlated to initial soil condition, tyre features, and number of passages. Monitoring and controlling frequency and position of machine traffic across the field, in such a way that passages are completed on specific, well-defined tracks, can assist with minimization of compaction effects on soil. The objective of the present work was to analyze the subsoil compaction during the growing period of sugar beet with different farming approaches including controlled traffic passages and random traffic. To this end, tests were carried out following each agro technical operation using penetrometer readings in order to monitor the state of cone-index after each step. In addition, at the harvesting time, root quality parameters were analyzed with particular attention to length and regularity of the taproot, total length, circumference, mass, and above-ground biomass. Such parameters were usefully implemented in order to evaluate the effects of controlled traffic passages compared to the random traffic in a cultivation of sugar beet. Results highlight how an increase in crop yield, derived from samples monitored, higher than 10% can be expected with implementation of a careful traffic management.Additional key words: soil; traffic management; compaction; crop parameters.Correspondence should be addressed to Andrea Pezzuolo: andrea.pezzuolo@unipd.itAbbreviations used: CI (cone index); CT (controlled traffic area); CTF (controlled traffic farming); CT0 (soil portion not affect by machines compaction); CT3 (lanes undergoing three machines passes); CT8 (lanes undergoing eight machines passes); RT (random traffic area); WW (work widths). Funding:The authors received no specific funding for this work.

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“…Typically, under conventional tillage with random traffic (RT), almost all field area is trafficked by wheels at least once every year [1]. However, in the last decades, farmers have attempted to concentrate field traffic on temporary or permanent tramlines [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%