Soil compaction in double-cropped wheat and soybeans on an Ultisol

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 183 - 186
• Main Authors: NeSmith, D.S, Radcliffe, D.E, Hargrove, W.L, Clark, R.L, Tollner, E.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Soil Science Society of America 01-01-1987
• Subjects: ACRISOL; ACRISOLES; ACRISOLS; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; COMPACTACION DEL SUELO; COMPACTAGE DU SOL; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; CULTIVO SECUENCIAL; CULTURE SEQUENTIELLE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Cropping systems and patterns; GLYCINE MAX; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; SEQUENTIAL CROPPING; SOIL COMPACTION; Soil science; Structure, texture, density, mechanical behavior. Heat and gas exchanges; TRITICUM AESTIVUM; Bulk density; Monocotyledones; United States; Cropping system; Soil structure; Zero tillage; Compaction; North America; Glycine max; Cereal crop; Oil plant(vegetal); Soil conservation; Leguminosae; Gramineae; Dicotyledones; America; Angiospermae; Soil; Spermatophyta; Georgia; Ultisols; Triticum aestivum
• ISSN: 0361-5995; 1435-0661
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj1987.03615995005100010038x

In recent years double‐crop winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have become quite common in the southeastern USA. To minimize the time between harvest of the winter crop and planting of soybeans, many farmers have adopted reduced or no‐tillage systems. A 2‐yr experiment was conducted on an Ultisol in Georgia to assess the influence of these tillage practices on soil physical properties. Spring tillage treatments were no‐tillage, disking, and moldboard plow plus disking. Fall tillage prior to planting wheat was with a disk. Bulk density and mechanical impedance measurements indicated a compacted layer in the disked and notillage treatments at a depth of 0.15 to 0.25 m. This was attributed, in part, to the fall disking, and it persisted through the winter and into the next growing season.