Reduction of Soil Compaction in a Cotton and Peanut Rotation Using Conservation Systems

摘要

Southern Coastal Plain soils benefit from the adoption of conservation tillage systems as water retention and organic matter increase which improves soil structure. However, some Coastal Plain soils are prone to compaction and tend to form hardpans which restrict root growth and reduce yields. The adoption of non-inversion deep tillage has been recommended to disrupt compacted soil layers and create an adequate medium for crop development. In spite of its efficacy, increased fuel prices have many producers questioning in-row subsoiling as too expensive. This has led to research on development of subsoiler shanks that minimally disrupt soil surface and require reduced horsepower. Three subsoiling implements were evaluated against a no-subsoiled treatment with and without a rye cover crop at the Wiregrass Research Station in Headland, AL on a Dothan loamy sand soil. Plant, soil and machinery parameters were evaluated: crop yield, cover crop biomass, cotton leaf temperature, soil moisture, bulk density, and cone index. Results showed consistently lower yields for no-subsoiled treatments. In one year of the study which was dramatically affected by drought, significantly increased yields were found with the use of a cover crop. No differences between implements were found.