2022, Issue 4, Volume 14

SOIL COMPACTION: ITS CAUSES, EFFECT AND SOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE

Dharam Pal, Sunil Kumar*, R.S. Garhwal and Anil Kumar

Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana-125004

Email: dharampalsagwal3238@gmail.com

Received-05.04.2022, Revised-18.04.2022, Accepted-28.04.2022

Abstract: In modern agriculture, most of the field operations from sowing to harvesting are done mechanically by using heavy agricultural machinery and equipments/implements. However, the loads from these heavy machineries may induce stresses exceeding soil strength causing soil compaction. Field preparation with large and heavier agricultural machinery induced hard pan/plough sole at the depth below the tilled zone of approximately 20 cm (sub-soil compaction). This is more serious problem because alleviating procedures such as sub-soiling or deep tillage is difficult and costly, over and above normal tillage. The magnitude of top as well as sub-soil compaction, however, depends on the type of tillage equipment, intensity of tillage, soil properties (texture, organic matter contents etc.) and the soil moisture content at the time of tillage.

Keywords: Soil compaction, Soil properties, Plant growth, Crop yields

References

Akram, M. and Kemper, W.D. (1979). Infiltration of soils as affected by the pressure and water content at the time of compaction. American Journal of Soil Science Society. 43 : 1080-1086.

Google Scholar

Arora, V.K., Gajri, P.R. and Chaudhary, M.R. (1993). Effects of conventional and deep tillage on mustard for efficient water and nitrogen use in coarse textured soils. Soil Tillage Res. 26 : 327-340.

Google Scholar

Arora, V.K. Gajri, P.R. and Prihar, S.S. (1991.) Tillage effects on corn in sandy soils in relation to water retentively, nutrient and water management and season evaporativity. Soil Tillage Res. 21 : 1-21.

Google Scholar

Bandyopadhay, R. K. and Pandey, R. S. (1984). Effect of deep ploughing on leaching of salts from heavy textured coastal saline soils. Indian Journal of soil Science Society. 32 : 361-363.

Google Scholar

Blackwell, P. S. and Soane, B. D. (1981). A method of predicting bulk density changes in field soils resulting from the compaction by agricultural traffic. Journal of Soil Science.32 : 51-65.

Google Scholar

Boone, F. R. (1986). Towards soil compaction limits for plant growth. Netherland Journal of Agricultural Science. 34 : 349-360.

Google Scholar

Chambers, R., Natho-Jina, S., Weil. C. and Mckeys. E. (1990). Crop rotation and sub- soiling on compacted clay soils. Am. Soc. Agril. Eng. 90 : 1102-12.

Google Scholar

Champbell, R. B., Reicosky, D.C. and Doty, C. W. (1974). Physical properties and tillage of paleudults in the South Eastern plains. Journal of Soil Water Conservation. 29 : 220-224.

Google Scholar

Chaudhary. M.R., Gajri, P.R., Prihar, S.S, and Khera. R. 1985. Effect of deep tillage on  soil physical properties and maize yields on coarse textured soils. Soil Tillage Res. 6 : 31-44.

Google Scholar

Dann, P. R., Thomas, A.G., Cunningham, R. B. and Moore, P. H. R. (1987). Response by wheat, rape and field peas to pre-sowing, herbicide and deep tillage. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 27 : 431-437.

Google Scholar

Das, K. N. and Das, K. (1994). Effect of sulphur and nitrogen fertilization on yield and N uptake by Rapeseed. Indian Journal of soil Science Society. 42 : 476-478.

Google Scholar

Diaz-Zorita, M. (2000). Effect of Deep-Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Interactions on Dryland Corn (Zea mays L.) Productivity. Soil and Tillage Research. 54 : 11-19.

Google Scholar

Diaz-Zorita, M. (1999). Effect of six years of tillage systems in a Hapludoll from the northwest part of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ciencia del Suelo 17 : 31-36.

Google Scholar

Gajri, P. R., Arora, V. K. and Chaudhary, M. R. (1994). Maize growth response to deep tillage, straw mulching and farm yard manure in coarse textured soil of North West India. Soil Use and Management. 10 : 15-20.

Google Scholar

Gajri, P. R., Gill, K.S., Chaudhary, M.R, and Singh, R. (1997, Irriation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in relation to tillage and mulching. Agril. Water Mgt. 34 : 149-160.

Google Scholar

Gajri, P. R., Prihar, S .S., Cheema H.S. and Kapoor, A. (1991), Irrigation and tillage effect on root development, water use and yield wheat in textured soils. Irrig. Sci. 12 : 161-168.

Google Scholar

Gameda, S., Raghavan, G.V.S. McKyes, E. and Theriault, R. (1987). Sub-soil compaction in a clay soil. II. Natural alleviation. Soil Tillage Res, 10 : 123-130.

Google Scholar

Gerard, C. J., Sexton, P. and Shaw, G. (1982). Physical factors influencing soil strength and root growth. Agronomy Journal. 74 : 875-879.

Google Scholar

Gupta, S.C. and Larson, W.E. (1982). Predicting soil mechanical behaviour during tillage, In: Predicting Tillage Effects on Soil Physical Properties and Processes. American Society of Agronomy. 44(10) : 151-178.

Google Scholar

Gupta, S.C., Hadas, A., Voorhees, W.B., Wolf, D., Larson, W.E. and Schneider, E.C. (1985). Development of quids for estimating the ease of compaction of world soils. Bet Dagan, Israel. Research Report, Bi-national Agric. Res. Development, University of Minnesota, 178 pp.

Google Scholar

Ike, I. F. and Arenu, J. A. (1990). Soil physical Properties as influenced by tillage practices. SamaruJournal of Agricultural Research. 7 : 67-74.

Google Scholar

Johnson, B. S., Erikson, A. E. and Voorhees, W. B. (1989). Condition of a lake plain soil as affected by deep tillage and wheel traffic. American Journal of Soil Science Society. 53 : 1545-1551.

Google Scholar

Kumar, K.: Malik, R.S. and Bhandari, A.R. (1994). Effect of soil compaction on root growth and yield of peas. J. Indian Soc, Soil Sci. 42:132-134.

Google Scholar

Larson, W.E. and Osborne, G.J. (1982). Tillage accomplishments and potential.  Am S. Sc. So. 677 South Segre road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711 USA. 44 :1-12.

Google Scholar

Lowery, B. and Schuler, R. T. (1994). Duration and effect of compaction on soil and plant growth in Wisconsin. Soil and Tillage Research. 29 : 205-210.

Google Scholar

Masand, S. S., Sharma, C. M. and Minhas, R. S. (1992). Effect of tillage methods and nitrogen levels on the yield and N uptake by wheat in a Hilly Terrian. Indian Journal of Soil Science Society. 40 : 549-552.

Google Scholar

Mathan, K. K. and Nateson, R. (1993). Effect of compaction on yield of maize and nutrient uptake in sandy soils. Indian Journal of Soil Science Society. 41 : 765-767.

Google Scholar

Miriti, J. M., Kironchi, G., Esilaba, A. O., Gachene, C. K. K., Heng, L. K. and Mwangi, D. M. (2013). The effects of tillage systems on soil physical properties and water conservation in a sandy loam soil in Eastern Kenya. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management.  4(7) : 146-154.

Google Scholar

Moreno, F., Pelegrin, F., Fernandez, J. E. and Murielle, J. M. (1997). Soil physical properties, water depletion and crop development under traditional and conservation tillage in Southern Spain. Soil and Tillage Research. 41 : 25-42.

Google Scholar

Negi, S. C., McKyes, E., Raghavan, G. V. S. and Taylor, F. (1981). Relationships of field traffic and tillage to corn yield and soil properties. Journal of Terramechanics. 18 : 81-90.

Google Scholar

Ohu, J. O., Raghavan, G. V. S., Mckyes, E. and Mehuys, G. (1986). Shear strength prediction of compacted soils with varing organic matter content. Transactions of the ASAE.  29 : 351-355.

Google Scholar

Pal, D. and Phogat, V. K. (2004). Effect of deep tillage and gypsum application on response of mustard in soil with plough sole. Journal of Indian Society of Soil Science. 52(2) : 202-205.

Google Scholar

Pal, D. and Phogat, V. K. (2005). Effect of deep tillage and gypsum on yield and N, P, K, and S uptake by mustard. Journal of Indian Society of Soil Science. 53(1) : 134-136.

Google Scholar

Pal, D., Phogat, V. K. and Dahiya, R. (2009). Effect of deep tillage and gypsum on oil and protein content of mustard. Research on Crops. 10(2) : 469-471.

Google Scholar

Priya, K. C., Mani I. and Parray, R. A. (2019). Long term effect of different tillage systems on soil physical properties and yield of wheat. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 8(2) : 2182-2185.

Google Scholar

Raghavan, G. V. S. and Mckyes, E. (1983). Physical and hydraulic characteristics in compacted clay soils. Journal of Terramachanics. 19 : 235-242.

Google Scholar

Raghavan, G. V. S. and Ohu, J. O. (1985). Prediction of equivalent pressure of Proctor compaction blows. Transactions of the ASAE.  28 : 1398-1400.

Google Scholar

Raghavan, G. V. S., Mckyes, E., Amir, I., Chasse, M. and Broughton, R. S. (1976). Prediction of soil compaction due to off-road vehicle traffic. Transactions of the ASAE.  19 : 610-613.

Google Scholar

Raghavan, G.V.S. (1990). Soil compaction in agriculture: A view towards managing the problem. Adv. Soil Sci. 6 : 65-100.

Google Scholar

Raghavan, G.V.S., Mckyes, E., Taylor, F., Richard, P. and Watson, A. (1979). The relationship between machinery traffic  and corn yield reactions in successive years. Trans. ASAE. 22 : 1256-1259.

Google Scholar

Russel, R. S. and Goss, M. J. (1974). Physical aspects of soil fertility. The response of roots to mechanical impedance. Netherland Journal of Agricultural Science. 22 : 305-318.

Google Scholar

Saheptukhov, V. N., Voronin, A. I. and Shipilov, M. A. (1982). Bulk density of the soil and its productivity. Soviet Soil Science. 14 : 97-107.

Google Scholar

Singh, M. and Chaudhary, M. R. (1998). Effect of deep tillage on growth and yield of maize under water stressed condition at different physiological stages on coarse textured soil. Journal of Indian Society of Soil Science. 46 : 557-562.

Google Scholar

Soane, B. D. and Bonne, F. R. (1986). The effect of tillage and traffic on soil structure. Soil and tillage research. 8 : 303-306.

Google Scholar

Surakod, V. S. and Itnal, C. J. (1997). Response of rabi sorghum to tillage practices and nitrogen levels in deep black soil under dryland conditions. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Science. 10 : 307-310.

Google Scholar

Taylor, J. H. and Gill, W. R. (1984). Soil compaction: State of the art report. Journal Terramechanics. 21 : 195-213.

Google Scholar

Unger, P. W. and Kaspar, T. C. (1994). Soil compaction and root growth: a review. Agronomy Journal. 86 : 759-766.

Google Scholar

Unger, P.W. and Wiese, A.F. (1979). Managing irrigated winter wheat residues for water storage and subsequent dryland grain sorghum production. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 43 : 582–588.

Google Scholar

Vigier, B. and Raghavan, G. V. S. (1980). Soil compaction effect in clay soils on common root rot in canning peas. Canadian Plant Disease Survey. 60 : 43-51.

Google Scholar

Wesley, R.A., Smith, L.A. and Spurlock, S.R. (1993). Economic analysis of irrigation and deep tillage in soybean production systems on clay soil. Soil Tillage Res. 28 : 63–78.

Google Scholar