Effect of Tractor Traffic, Surface Mulch, and Seedbed Configuration on Soil Properties

Abstract

AbstractThis study was conducted to determine the effects of three seedbed configurations, four mulch rates, and tractor traffic confinement on soil properties that affect soil‐water relations of a sandy soil with cotton as a test crop. The lack of water limits crop production on dryland sandy soils in the Southern High Plains.Undisturbed soil cores were taken from the 0‐ to 7.5‐, 7.5‐ to 15‐, and 22.5‐ to 30‐cm depths in the trafficked and nontrafficked interrows and crop rows of the flat, ridge, and furrow treatments. Surface mulch rates of 0, 5.6, 11.2, and 22.4 tons/ha of cotton‐bur mulch were applied annually after seedbed preparation to each split plot. Tractor traffic was confined to the same path each year using cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as a test crop.Mulching at rates > 11.2 tons/ha reduced the bulk density, increased hydraulic conductivity, air porosity, total porosity, and organic matter content even in the trafficked interrows. Hydraulic conductivity of the crop rows increased eight‐fold with heavy mulch applications. Hydraulic conductivity increased three‐fold, bulk density was reduced, and air porosity increased as a result of controlling tractor traffic even without mulch.