Vehicular traffic effect on physical properties of sandy loam soil profiles in a semi-arid region of Nigeria

Abstract

The effects of soil compaction from two different wheel tractors on infiltration rate, bulk density and penetration resistance were investigated on a sandy loam soil. A randomized complete block design was used with treatments of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 passes of two different agricultural tractors. Farm tractors of 52.5 kN by weight with inflation pressure of 37.50 kPa and 43.35 kN by weight with inflation pressure of 31.0 kPa were used for all the treatments in the two farm lands respectively. The dry density and penetration resistance of the soil were measured in the two fields from the surface to a depth of 0.50 m, while the ponded infiltration rate in the two fields were measured for a period of 200 min. Results of a loading on the soil showed that dry bulk density and penetration resistance increased with the number of tractor passes. These effects were most prominent at 0.20 m depth. The infiltration rate of the soil was found to decrease with the increase in the number of tractor passes.