Abstract
Subsoiling has been acknowledged worldwide to break compacted hardpan, improve soil permeability and water storage capacity, and promote topsoil deepening and root growth. However, there exist certain factors which limit the wide in-field application of subsoiling machines. Of these factors, the main two are poor subsoiling quality and high energy consumption, especially the undesired tillage depth obtained in the field with cover crops. Based on the analysis of global adoption and benefits of subsoiling technology, and application status of subsoiling machines, this article reviewed the research methods, technical characteristics, and developing trends in five key aspects, including subsoiling shovel design, anti-drag technologies, technologies of tillage depth detection and control, and research on soil mechanical interaction. Combined with the research progress and application requirements of subsoiling machines across the globe, current problems and technical difficulties were analyzed and summarized. Aiming to solve these problems, improve subsoiling quality, and reduce energy consumption, this article proposed future directions for the development of subsoiling machines, including optimizing the soil model in computer simulation, strengthening research on the subsoiling mechanism and comprehensive effect, developing new tillage depth monitoring and control systems, and improving wear-resisting properties of subsoiling shovels.
Highlights
As the important factor in crop growth, soil is a valuable agricultural resource, a significant production factor, and an indispensable foundation supporting the sustainable development of agriculture [1]
Due to long-term conventional ploughing practices, hardpan has been shaped, which is a typical form of soil compaction [3,4]
The root-system penetrability is affected by soil compaction, and especially the high-level compaction inhibits the root growth [10]
Summary
As the important factor in crop growth, soil is a valuable agricultural resource, a significant production factor, and an indispensable foundation supporting the sustainable development of agriculture [1]. The ideal farmland soil is composed of 50% soil particles with organic matter and 50% pores; with respect to pores, the moisture and air respectively account for 25% [2]. The failure layer is formed, resulting in the rearrangement of soil particles under external forces [5,6], and giving rise to a reduction in soil porosity and an increase in bulk density [7,8,9]. The root-system penetrability is affected by soil compaction, and especially the high-level compaction inhibits the root growth [10]. The hardpan binds root proliferation, reduces root penetration, and decreases root length and dry matter [11]. The key enzymes required for plant respiration show a downward trend with
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