Relation of Compaction and Soil Physical Parameters to Productivity of Reclaimed Soils

摘要

The study was undertaken to evaluate two major objectives. The first objective was to determine initial effects of various tillage treatments on alleviating compaction (reducing bulk density) following reclamation and to determine the effects with time these tillage practices had on physical properties (bulk density and soil strength), forage/small grain yields and root development. The second objective was to quantify the effects of root growth of various plant species and climatic factors on compaction (bulk density by depth) by analyzing mineland soils which had been reclaimed for several years. A secondary objective that was completed during the last year of this grant was to study the effect of three years of various forage species growth on spring wheat yields as compared to areas cropped yearly since reclamation was completed.