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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120538
Title: SOIL STRUCTURE AND PLANT ESTABLISHMENT

Author
item Karlen, Douglas

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Soil Science
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2001
Publication Date: 6/30/2002
Citation: KARLEN, D.L. SOIL STRUCTURE AND PLANT ESTABLISHMENT. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SOIL SCIENCE. 2002. P. 1269-1272.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The impacts of plants on soil structure and soil structure on plants - including germination, emergence, root development and water/air relationships are discussed in an educational format. Four topics entitled (1) plant effects on soil structure, (2) human impacts on soil structure, (3) soil structure effects on plant growth, and (4) managing soil structure for plant establishment are summarized. Examples are given to show how soil management decisions such as the type and amount of tillage to use or when to plant, interact with inherent (natural occurring) soil structure to create the dynamic seedbed characteristics that are often used as indicators of soil quality with regard to crop production.