ARS | Publication request: SHALLOW TILLAGE OF SOIL COMPACTED OVER BURIED MICROIRRIGATION LATERALS

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Soil compaction limited growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) roots when management included no-tillage and irrigation with subsurface drip laterals on a loamy sand (Aquic Hapludult). Therefore, two conservation tillage tools were used to disrupt soil above the laterals providing an improved rooting environment. Laterals had been buried to 30-cm depths either under revery row or under alternate mid rows. Tillage for each lateral placement included no tillage, 20-cm-deep tillage with a subsoil shank, and 15-cm-deep broadcast tillage. Non-irrigated treatments included no-tillage and standard 30-cm-deep in-row subsoiling. As seen by soil strength measurements, tillage tools loosened the soil but compacted zones remained above buried laterals. Loosening the soil did not improve yields. Since both 1998 and 1999 were dry years, yield was improved by irrigation. Deeper loosening would be desirable, but this will increase the potential of damaging buried laterals.