Agronomy Reserch 6(1), 11 18, 28 Effect of soil compction on growth of nrrow lefed lupine, oilseed rpe nd spring rley on sndy lom soil K. Trükmnn 1, E. Reintm 1, J. Kuht 1, E. Nugis 2 nd L. Edesi 2 1 Estonin University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agriculturl nd Environmentl Sciences, Kreutzwldi St. 64, 5114 Trtu, Estoni; e-mil: ktrin.trykmnn@emu.ee 2 Estonin Reserch Institute of Agriculture, Teduse St. 13, 7551 Sku, Estoni Astrct. Soil compction is n environmentl prolem nd hs een recognized s the min form of soil degrdtion in Europe. Soil compction my increse soil strength nd compcted soil lyers cn ffect root nd shoot growth. The im of this work ws to investigte the effect of soil compction on soil properties nd on the growth of nrrow lefed lupine (Lupinus ngustifolius L.), spring oilseed rpe (Brssic npus ssp. oleifer Hertzg.), nd spring rley (Hordeum vulgre L.). The experiment ws crried out on the reserch field of the Estonin University of Life Sciences in the summers of 24 nd 25 on the sndy lom Stgnic Luvisol. The field ws compcted y trctor MTZ-82 (totl weight 4.84 Mg) chrcterized y multiple tire-to-tire pssing. Prmeters such s plnts iomss (roots nd shoots) nd the chnges in physicl properties, ulk density nd penetrtion resistnce of soil were mesured. The results of the present study reveled tht the highest increse of penetrtion resistnce nd soil ulk density due to the soil compction occurred in growing spring rley. Although the roots nd shoots mss of lupine nd oilseed rpe incresed with incresed soil ulk density, there ws very strong negtive liner correltion etween the roots nd shoots weight nd soil ulk density on spring rley. A positive correltion ws detected etween the roots nd shoots mss of nrrow lefed lupine nd soil ulk density, nd soil compction hd positive effect on the roots nd shoots mss of oilseed rpe. The study indictes tht oilseed rpe nd nrrow lefed lupine cn grow more successfully on compcted soils thn cn rley. Key words: soil compction, lupine, oilseed rpe, spring rley, ulk density, penetrtion resistnce INTRODUCTION Soil compction of griculturl soils is glol concern (Sone & vn Ouwerkerk, 1994) due to dverse effects on the environment: it is estimted to e responsile for the degrdtion of n re of 33 million h in Europe (Akker & Cnrche, 21) nd is one of the mjor prolems fcing modern griculture. Overuse of mchinery, intensive cropping nd short crop rottions, intensive grzing nd inpproprite soil mngement leds to compction (Hmz & Anderson, 25),which ffects key soil properties porosity, ulk density, mechnicl impednce, hydrulic conductivity nd plnt-ville wter (Pssiour, 22). From n gronomic point of view, the results of soil compction re decresed root growth nd development, nd consequently, reduction in crop yield (Håknsson & Reeder, 1994). Susoil 11
compction my persist for long time nd is hence thret to the long-term productivity of the soil (Etn & Håknsson, 1994). This study ws conducted to determine the influence of soil compction on soil ulk density nd penetrtion resistnce nd on the growth of nrrow lefed lupine (Lupinus ngustifolius L.), spring oilseed rpe (Brssic npus ssp. oleifer Hertzg.), nd spring rley (Hordeum vulgre L.). MATERIALS AND METHODS Dt were collected from the reserch field (58 23 N, 26 44 E) of the Estonin University of Life Sciences with different levels of soil compction on sndy lom soil, in 24 nd 25. The size of experimentl plots ws 3x9 m (27 m 2 ). The soil type ws Stgnic Luvisol ccording to the WRB 1998 clssifiction (FAO, 1998). From the dignostic nd genetic horizons the humus (Ap), ferrlic (Bw), stgnic (Ew) nd rgillic (Bt) horizons were found in soil of the experimentl res. The soil chrcteristics of the humus horizon were: C 1.4%, N.11%, K 164 mg kg -1, P 183 mg kg -1, C 674 mg kg -1, Mg 11 mg kg -1, ph KCl 6.2, snd (2..2 mm) 67.9%, silt (.2.2 mm) 22.9% nd cly (<.2 mm) 9.2%. A detiled description of the soil in the experimentl re is presented y Reintm nd Köster (26). Soil compction hs occurred efore sowing ech spring since 21. Compction ws generted using trctor MTZ-82 provided with front loder with 2.25 Mg on the first xle nd 2.55 Mg on the rerwrd xle. Four different levels of soil compction were produced using the following tretments: uncompcted control, no pss of trctor wheels; compcted 1 time one pss of trctor wheels; compcted 3 times three psses of trctor wheels; compcted 6 times six psses of trctor wheels. Dt from the vegettion presented in this pper were collected from 2 tretments: uncompcted nd 6 times compcted. Dt from ll compction tretments were used in the correltion nlysis etween root growth nd soil ulk density. Seeds of lupine were sown y 56, nd spring rley, y 45 germinting seeds per m 2 (25 kg h -1 ); seeds of spring oilseed rpe were sown y 12 kg h -1. Sowing took plce mid-my. For rley, complex fertilizer ws used t the rte of N 4 P 7 K 2 kg h -1 efore sowing. No hericides or other pesticides were used on rley or other cultures. The smples of soil from plnt roots were tken in the ering phse of rley (mid-july) in growth stge 75 79 ccording to the numeric code description ccording to the BBCH Growth Scle of plnts (Lncshire et l. 1991). Root smples nd soil ulk density were tken with 1131 cm 3 steel cylinders (h = 15 cm, Ø = 9.8 cm) in 15 cm lyers down to 6 cm in 4 replictions. The proes were weighed efore wshing roots to determine the ulk density of the soil. In the field, specil proes were tken to detect the soil moisture content in spring efore soil compction nd in the ering phse of rley. Soil proes were dried t 15 C. The roots were wshed out from fresh soil with wter on.5 mm sieves, then were dried t 6 C nd weighed. Penetrtion resistnce ws mesured with cone penetrometer (cone ngle 6, stick dimeter 12 mm) in every 5 cm lyer down to 6 cm in 4 replictions. All sttisticl mesures were treted with the softwre Sttistic 7. nd nlysis of vrince (ANOVA) ws implemented (SttSoft, 26). To compre the differences etween vlues the Fisher LSD post-hoc test ws used. 12
In oth yers, the soil moisture content t the moment of compction ws similr in the topsoil ( 3 cm) 175 18 g kg -1 nd in the susoil (3 6 cm) 12 13 g kg -1. The wether in 24 ws very riny. The wter content t the time of mesurements ws 19 2 g kg -1 in topsoil nd 15 g kg -1 in susoil. During the vegettion period there were 582 mm of precipittion nd the verge ir temperture ws 13 C. In 25 there ws 254 mm of precipittion; the verge ir temperture ws lso 13 C. In 25, compred with 24, the soil ws dry t the time of mesurements in topsoil 14 15 g kg -1 nd in susoil 11 11 g kg -1. RESULTS The ANOVA mesurements of the soil penetrtion resistnce nd ulk density reveled tht culture, tretment of compction nd the investigted soil lyer were significnt fctors in ccounting for differences etween tretments (Tle 1). The tretment of compction significntly ffected the shoot weight, ut not the root weight. The most significnt fctor ffecting soil penetrtion resistnce, ulk density (in yer 25) nd root weight ws the soil depth. Tle 1. Direct nd co-effect of tril fctors from totl environmentl impct nd significnce of fctors on soil penetrtion resistnce, dry ulk density, plnts roots nd shoots weight in the experiment. Direct nd co-effect of tril fctors from totl impct (%) Fctor Penetrtion resistnce Bulk density Root weight Shoot weight Yer 24 C 9.4*** 24*** 4** 15*** T 16*** 4* 2.3 35*** L 56*** 9*** 52** C x T 2*** 7** 2 37*** C x L 2* 2 6** T x L 5*** 1 5 C x T x L 5*** 8 3 Yer 25 C 1* 13*** 1 76*** T 11*** 14*** 1 8*** L 73*** 36*** 72*** C x T 1 5** 7*** 11*** C x L 1 1 7* T x L 2** 5 3 C x T x L 2 5 2*** Significnce * P <.5; ** P <.1; *** P <.1 C Culture; T Compction tretment; L Soil lyer 13
Soil penetrtion resistnce, MP 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 cd e e d Yer 24 Uncompcted Compcted Yer 25 Uncompcted Compcted e 24 25 24 25 25 c Oilseed rpe Nrrow lefed lupine Oilseed rpe Spring rley Nrrow-lefed lupine f c Soil ulk density, Mg m -3 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 cd cd c cd Yer 24 Uncompcted Compcted Yer 25 Uncompcted Compcted cd 24 25 24 25 25 de Oilseed Rps rpe Spring Oder rley Nrrow -lefed Sinine lupine Fig. 1. Soil penetrtion resistnce () nd dry ulk density () depending on the soil compction, yer nd culture in verge of 6 cm soil lyer. The error rs indicte SE (P<.5). Mens with the sme letter do not differ sttisticlly ccording to the Fisher LSD post-hoc test. e c Root weight, g m -2 7 6 5 4 3 2 d e d c Yer 24 Uncompcted Compcted Yer 25 Uncompcted Compcted c Dry shoot weight, g m -2 7 6 5 4 3 2 c fg g cd de c ef Yer 24 Uncompcted Compcted Yer 25 Uncompcted Compcted 1 24 25 24 25 25 Oilseed rpe Nrrow lefed lupine Spring rley 1 24 25 24 25 25 Oilseed rpe Nrrow lefed lupine Spring rley Fig. 2. Root dry weight () nd shoot dry weight () depending on the soil compction, yer nd culture in verge of 6 cm soil lyer. The error rs indicte SE (P<.5). Mens with the sme letter do not differ sttisticlly ccording to the Fisher LSD post-hoc test. Root weight, g m -2 8 6 4 2 Oilseed rpe Nrrow-lefed lupine Spring rley Shoot weight, g m -2 8 6 4 2 Oilseed rpe Nrrow-lefed lupine Spring rley 1,4 1,45 1,5 1,55 1,6 1,65 1,7 1,75 Soil ulk density, Mg m -3 Oilseed rpe: r =.9; y = 61x + 26; p =.98 Nrrow-lefed lupine: r =.62; y = 136x - 164; p =.3 Spring rley: r = -.65; y = -74x + 1454; p =.3 1.4 1.45 1.5 1.55 1.6 1.65 1.7 1.75 Soil ulk density, Mg m -3 Oilseed rpe: r =.77; y = 555x - 727; p =.6 Nrrow-lefed lupine: r =.13; y = 133x - 7; p =.7 Spring rley: r = -.65; y = -1184x + 2322; p =.2 Fig. 3. Correltions etween the root weight nd dry soil ulk density () nd etween shoot weight nd the dry soil ulk density () in 25. Soil ulk density is presented s n verge of 6 cm. 14
As expected, the verge (6 cm soil lyer) vlues of soil penetrtion resistnce nd ulk density were significntly incresed on the compcted re compred with control in oth yers nd in growing ll investigted cultures (Fig. 1,, ). The highest increse in verge soil penetrtion resistnce (y 1.8 1.96 MP) nd in verge ulk density (y.8 Mg m -3 ) ws detected in the soil underneth spring rley. A smller increse of penetrtion resistnce (1.7 1.23 MP) ws detected in soil underneth oilseed rpe nd lupine. The verge soil ulk density ws.6 Mg m -3 higher under lupine nd.3.4 Mg m -3 higher under oilseed rpe in compcted soil thn in the uncompcted soil. Of the plnt species investigted, soil compction hd most ffect on the growth of spring rley roots nd shoots (Fig. 2,, ). The root mss of rley decresed y 74% (in 24) due to compction compred with control. The growth of oilseed rpe differed etween yers. As in the first yer, soil compction incresed the shoot nd root mss of oilseed rpe; in the second yer, following compction, the mss decresed. Soil compction hd positive effect on the growth of nrrow-lefed lupine roots nd shoots. Root mss of lupines incresed y 23% nd shoot weight y 7.6% due to the compction. The root nd shoot weight of spring rley ws negtively correlted with soil ulk density: the decrese ws 2.3% per.1 Mg m -3 (Fig. 3,, ). Soil ulk density hd no impct on the root weight of oilseed rpe ut ws positively correlted with shoot mss (r =.77) which incresed 13.5% per.1 Mg m -3. For lupine, the correltion etween soil ulk density nd shoot mss ws not significnt. The root weight of lupine ws incresed 5% per.1 Mg m -3 (r =.62). DISCUSSION Mechnicl impednce of soil is n importnt constrint to root (Glinski & Lipiec, 199) nd shoot growth (Townend et l., 1996). Usully the mechnicl impednce of soil is descried in terms of soil ulk density nd/or soil strength (Pin et l., 1991). Soil ulk density is inversely relted to totl porosity (Crter & Bll, 1993), which provides mesure of the porous spce left in the soil for ir nd wter movement (Lmpurlnes & Cntero-Mrtinez, 23). Soil wter content is the most importnt fctor influencing soil compction processes (Sone & vn Ouwerkerk, 1994) ecuse cone resistnce is highly dependent on soil wter content t the time of mesurements (Au-Hmdeh, 23). Mechnicl impednce increses s soil ulk density increses nd wter content decreses (Ehlers et l., 1983). In the current experiment, 24 ws very riny nd the soil moisture content ws higher during the tking of smples thn in the second experimentl yer, possily explining the higher verge soil ulk density nd penetrtion resistnce vlues in 25 (Fig. 1,, ). In compring the compcted nd uncompcted soil, the highest increse of verge soil penetrtion resistnce nd ulk density vlues ws detected in spring rley growth in oth yers. The rise in soil penetrtion resistnce nd ulk density ws reltively smller under oilseed rpe nd lupine. The rnge of verge soil ulk density vlues on oilseed rpe plots ws very nrrow (1.49 1.56 Mg m -3 ); this limits interprettion of correltion results (Fig. 3,, ). 15
Compcted soil lyers which re highly resistnt to penetrtion re one of the most common prolems tht ffect root systems (Rosolem et l., 22), decresing length nd rooting depth, nd concentrting roots in the top lyer (Lipiec et l., 1991). Soil compction cused rpid decrese in spring rley root weight (Figs. 2, ; 3, ), ut hd positive effect on the root mss of nrrow-lefed lupine nd oilseed rpe. The strong correltion etween the root weight of lupine nd soil ulk density indictes tht the roots of lupine re etter le to penetrte compcted soil. Root nd crop growth limiting ulk densities nd soil strengths hve een studied for severl crops. Decresed root penetrtion y cotton ws ssocited with n increse in soil ulk density to 1.65 Mg m -3 (Tylor & Grdner, 1963). In Austrli, Reeves et l. (1984) found tht spring whet grown in soil with ulk density of 1.52 Mg m -3 in the 2 cm depth hd less root growth thn tht grown in soil with ulk density of 1.32 Mg m -3. Jones (1983) found tht ulk densities gretly reducing root density vried with soil texture; these criticl ulk densities decresed s the percentge of cly nd silt incresed. According to Kooistr et l. (1992) nd Ehlers et l. (1983), reduction in pore size nd continuity increses the proility tht plnt roots will encounter nd penetrte soil crcks or iopores thus creting new root chnnels. Different cultures respond differently to high soil strength. Mtercher et l. (1991) exmined the effect of incresed soil strength on 22 monocotyledons nd dicotyledonous species: the effect of incresed soil strength on elongtion rtes of roots ws less pronounced on dicotyledonous species thn on the monocotyledonous. They ttriuted the greter ility of the dicotyledonous to their greter increse in dimeter. Cochrne nd Aylmore (1994) reported tht legumes re more effective for stilizing soil structure thn non-legumes: lupines were the most efficient species. The current study grees with tht finding. Soil compction my lso ffect shoot growth (Wolfe et l., 1995). In the current study the highest decrese due to soil compction ws detected in the shoot weight of spring rley (Fig. 2, ). Conversely, the shoot weight of oilseed rpe nd lupine on the compcted re incresed. Decresing effects re often explicle in terms of the inility of the hmpered roots to supply the shoot with wter or nutrients (Tylor & Brr, 1991). In mny studies oth the height nd weight of shoots were reduced in strong soils when compred to those grown in wek soils (Atwell, 199; Lowery nd Schuler, 1991). However, other studies conclude tht shoot growth ws not ffected y soil strength (Oussile et l., 1992) nd ws even promoted in strong soils compred with wek soils (Iijiem et l., 1991). Reintm et l (26) lso detected tht there ws only slight decrese in root mss (in upper 15 cm soil lyer) nd shoot mss (y 1%) in the yellow lupine growing on the most compcted re, s compred with control. 16 CONCLUSIONS Soil compction dversely ffected soil penetrtion resistnce nd soil ulk density under nrrow lefed lupine, spring oilseed rpe nd spring rley. Soil compction decresed the root nd shoot weights of spring rley nd there ws strong negtive liner correltion etween the iomss nd soil ulk density. The positive correltion etween root nd shoot mss nd soil ulk density ws detected y growing nrrow-lefed lupine on compcted soil. Soil compction hd positive effect
on the roots nd shoots mss of oilseed rpe. Nrrow lefed lupine nd oilseed rpe hve the ility to penetrte strong nd compct soil nd without negtive impct on the iomss. Additionl experiments re needed to verify the current results nd expnd studies on different soils nd cultures. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The study ws supported y Estonin Science Foundtion grnd No 5418 nd Bse-finnced Project No P662PKPK6. REFERENCES Au-Hmdeh, N.H. 23. Soil compction nd root distriution for okr s ffected y tillge nd vehicle prmeters. Soil Tillge Res. 74, 25 35. Akker, J.J.H. & Cnrche, A. 21. Two Europen concentrted ctions on susoil compction. Lndnutzung und Lndentwicklung 42, 15 22. Atwell, B.J. 199. The effect of soil compction on whet during erly tillering. I. Growth, development nd root structure. New Phytol. 115, 29 35. Crter, M.R. & Bll, B.C. 1993. Soil porsity. In Crter, M.R. (eds): Soil smpling methods of soil nlysis. Lewis Pul., Boc Rton, FL, pp. 581 588. Cochrne, H.R. & Aylmore, L.A.G. 1994. The effect of plnt roots on soil structure. In: Proceedings of 3 rd Triennl Conference Soils 94, pp. 27 212. Ehlers, W., Köpke, U., Hesse, F. & Böhm, W. 1983. Penetrtion resistnce nd root growth of ots in tilled nd untilled loess soil. Soil Tillge Res. 3, 261 275. Etn, A. & Håknsson, I. 1994. Swedish experiments on the persistence of susoil compction cused y vehicles with high xle lod. Soil Tillge Res. 29, 167 172. FAO, ISSS, ISRIC, 1998. World reference se for soil resources. World Soil Resources Rep. Rome 84 pp. Glinski, J. & Lipiec, J. 199. Soil Physicl Conditions nd Plnt Roots. CRC Press, Boc Rton, FL, USA, 25 pp. Håknsson, I. & Reeder, R.C. 1994. Susoil compction y vehicles with high xle lod extent, persistence nd crop response. Soil Tillge Res. 29, 277 34. Hmz, M.A. & Anderson, W.K. 25. Soil compction in cropping systems. A review of the nture, cuses nd possile solutions. Soil Tillge Res. 82, 121 145. Iijiem, M., Kono, Y., Ymuchi, A. & Prdles J.R. Jr. 1991. Effects of soil compction on the development of rice nd mize root systems. Environ. Exp. Bot. 31. 333 342. Jones, C.A. 1983. Effect of soil texture on criticl ulk densities for root growth. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 47, 128 1211. Kooistr, M.J., Schoondereek, D., Boone, F.R. & Veen, B.W. 1992. Root-soil contct of mize s mesured y thin- section technique. 2. Effect of soil compction. Plnt Soil 139, 119 129. Lmpurlnes, J. & Cntero-Mrtinez, C. 23. Soil ulk density nd penetrtion resistnce under deferent tillge nd crop mngement systems nd their reltionship with rley root growth. Agron. J. 95, 526 536. Lncshire, P., Bleiholder, H., Boom, T.P.L., Struss, R., Weer, E. & Witzenerger, A. 1991. A uniform deciml code for growth stges of crops nd weeds. Ann. Appl. Biol. 119, 561 61. Lipeic, J., Hknsson, I., Trkiewicz, S. & Kossowski, J. 1991. Soil physicl properties nd growth of spring rley relted to the degree of compctness of two soils. Soil Tillge Res. 82, 37 317. 17
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