Effects of subsoil compaction on yield and yield attributes of wheat in the sub-humid region of Pakistan

Abstract

The prolonged use of vehicular traffic for farming creates subsoil compaction, which reduces crop yield and deteriorates the physical conditions of the soil. Field experiments were conducted during 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 in Pakistan to study subsoil compaction effects on soil bulk density, total porosity, yield and yield components of wheat. Soil compaction was artificially created at the start of the experiment using 7.0 t roller having length of 1.5 m and diameter of 1.22 m. Treatments consisted of T 1 = control (no compaction), T 2 = two passes of roller, T 3 = four passes of roller, T 4 = six passes of roller. The experiments were arranged in randomised complete block with four replications. Results indicated that subsoil compaction adversely affected the bulk density, total porosity of soil and root length during both the years. Soil compaction increased the bulk density (BD) from 1.37 for T 1 to 1.57, 1.61 and 1.72 Mg m −3 whereas decreased the total porosity from 47.3% for T 1 to 40.0, 37.4 and 34.5% for T 2, T 3 and T 4, respectively. Similarly grain yield decreased from 4141.7 for T 1 to 3912.8, 3364.5 and 3010.3 kg ha −1 for T 2, T 3 and T 4, respectively. The deteriorating effect of compaction depended upon the degree of compaction. Subsoil compaction adversely affected the yield and yield attributes of wheat during both years of experiments. The subsoil compaction adversely affected soil physical conditions, which substantially decreased the yield of wheat. Therefore, appropriate measures of periodic chiselling, controlled traffic, conservation tillage, and incorporating of crops with deep tap root system in rotation cycle is necessary to minimize the risks of subsoil compaction.