Abstract
Deep tillage is often prescribed to alleviate subsoil compaction, but how long do the benefits last? Subsoilers from Deere, DMI, Kewanee, Tye, and Yetter were operated at a 280-mm depth on a compacted 25-ha field in autumn 1990. The different subsoiler designs were evaluated by draft, crop residue cover, soil physical properties and yield measurements over the subsequent two growing seasons. Air porosity and cone penetrometer measurements showed continuing benefits, from all subsoil operations, two years after tillage in areas not trafficked. However, two passes of a tractor recompacted the soil. Controlled traffic is, therefore, considered essential to obtain long-term benefits from subsoiling. Compared to check strips, soybean yield increases for the five subsoilers ranged from 3.0 to 6.9% in 1991 and corn yield increases ranged from 1.5 to 3.0% in 1992. Economically, the first year yields paid for the subsoiling, second year increases were profit.
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