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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122161
Title: SOIL RECOMPACTION AFTER INTENSIVE DEEP TILLAGE

Author
item Busscher, Warren
item Bauer, Philip
item FREDERICK, JAMES - CLEMSON UNIV.

Submitted to: Southern Conservation Tillage for Sustainable Agriculture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: For many Coastal Plain soils, high soil strength within subsurface horizons requires that deep tillage be performed to provide a suitable rooting environment. Longevity of deep tillage effects has been seen for three years with older tillage equipment. Newer equipment often disrupts more of the profile; tillage effects may last longer. We used soil strength results from experiments that were deep tilled twice a year or annually to examine longevity of soil loosening from tillage. Within these experiments, tillage disruption was measured from nine days to six years after tillage. Effects of disruption, as measured by a leveling off of soil strength with time, began to disappear after three years; yet strengths continued to build up for another two years. Though strengths continued to build up for five years, tillage would still be necessary annually or seasonally because yield reducing soil strengths built up after a year or less with incomplete recompaction.