Abstract
A field study on two 12.5 ha plots cultivated with wheat and alfalfa was conducted to determine Soil Compaction (SC), its spatial variability and its effect on crop performance under center pivot irrigation systems. Considering compaction at two tested soil depths, results revealed that the soil of the alfalfa plot exhibited significantly (p
Highlights
In the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, most commercial crops are grown on fields of large areas and irrigated using center pivot irrigation systems
Statistical analysis was performed to compare soil compaction values using one-way analysis of variance offered by the SPSS software program, version 20 IBM Inc., 2011
For the soil depth of 0 to 10 cm, significantly higher Soil Compaction (SC) values (p
Summary
In the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, most commercial crops are grown on fields of large areas (vary from 15 to 50 ha) and irrigated using center pivot irrigation systems. Soil compaction, which refers to the reduction in soil macro-pores and the increase in both soil density and soil strength, is characterized as one of the key land degradation processes It imposes detrimental effects on crop production as it creates a poor environment for root growth, reduces water infiltration and increases runoff, soil erosion. According to Bober et al (1996), wheel traffic from heavy vehicles can compress soils to varying degrees throughout the plant root zone, often causing increased mechanical strength and decreased air and water permeability. This condition can impede root elongation and significantly reduce crop growth and yield. The detrimental effects of soil compaction on crop performance have been reported by a number of researchers. Vermeulen et al (2010) reported the factors associated with soil compaction that
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