Abstract
Progressive soil compaction is a disadvantage of intensive tillage. Compaction exerts a negative impact on the physical properties of soil and decreases crop performance. The adverse effects of soil compaction can be mitigated by replacing conventional tillage with simplified tillage techniques. Simplified tillage exerts a protective effect on soil, reduces production costs and preserves agricultural ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of compaction and different tillage methods on the bulk density and moisture content of soil. The experimental factors were as follows: Soil compaction before sowing (non-compacted control treatment and experimental treatments where soil was compacted after the harvest of the preceding crop) and four different methods of seedbed preparation in a three-field rotation system (winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, spring barley). The influence of compaction on the bulk density and moisture content of soil varied across the rotated crops and their developmental stages. Soil compaction had no significant effect on the analyzed parameters in the cultivation of winter oilseed rape. In treatments sown with winter wheat, soil compaction resulted in significantly lower soil density and significantly higher soil moisture content. In plots sown with spring barley, soil compaction led to a significant increase in the values of both parameters. The average bulk density of soil after various tillage operations in the examined crop rotation system ranged from 1.49–1.69 g·m−3 (winter oilseed rape), 1.47–1.59 g·m−3 (winter wheat), 1.47–1.61 g·m−3 (spring barley). The bulk density and moisture content of soil were lowest after conventional tillage (control treatment) and higher after simplified tillage. Regardless of soil compaction, the greatest reduction in winter oilseed rape yields was noted in response to skimming, harrowing and the absence of pre-sowing plowing. Spring barley yields were higher in non-compacted treatments, whereas the reverse was observed in winter wheat. Chisel plowing and single plowing induced the greatest decrease in wheat yields relative to conventional tillage. Single plowing significantly decreased the grain yield of spring barley relative to the tillage system that involved skimming and fall plowing to a depth of 25.
Highlights
Soil tillage exerts a considerable influence on growing conditions and crop performance, and it is performed mainly to optimize soil productivity by modifying its chemical, physical and biological properties [1,2,3,4,5]
In plots sown with winter wheat and spring barley, significant differences in the bulk density of soil were observed at a depth of 0–10 cm
In the cultivation of winter wheat and spring barley, compaction increased soil moisture content in both soil horizons (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm). In these cereal species, soil moisture content was higher after conventional tillage
Summary
Soil tillage exerts a considerable influence on growing conditions and crop performance, and it is performed mainly to optimize soil productivity by modifying its chemical, physical and biological properties [1,2,3,4,5]. Tillage should counteract the adverse effects of technological progress and agricultural mechanization, in particular soil compaction. Conventional tillage (plowing), seedbed preparation and soil treatments where agricultural machines and devices move repeatedly across the field increase soil compaction [6,7]. Heavy agricultural machines damage soil aggregates, increase soil density and moisture content, and decrease soil porosity and permeability [8,9,10]. Soil compaction compromises aeration and the water-holding capacity of soil, and induces changes in its chemical and biological properties [12,13], leading to soil degradation and decreased crop yields [5,14,15,16]. The adverse effects of soil compaction are visible in the arable layer. Deeper soil layers are compacted, which can lead to the formation of plow pans that are very difficult to eliminate [17]
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