What changes can one make to their crop system in order to minimize soil compaction? Is there a paper/review addressing these measures?
Dear Thiago Villa,
I think sustainable agricultural practices are the need of hour and become challenging concern to the soil agricultural scientist. In order to reduce the soil compaction conservation agriculture practices like reduce tillage or no tillage will be most effective.
Kindly find the attachment and go through the links it may be helpful for you.
Good Luck.
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0167198704001849/1-s2.0-S0167198704001849-main.pdf?_tid=22bc50c2-aa7c-11e5-8e0c-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1450988764_91220d32a1de244a8f54910ece707020
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0167198701001775/1-s2.0-S0167198701001775-main.pdf?_tid=1601ff1c-aa7c-11e5-ab99-00000aacb361&acdnat=1450988742_3d464b957c47a2fa796bf4db8cd76043
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dlAoxg6gX4cC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=crop+system+for+minimizing+compaction&ots=YaxclX0rU-&sig=HDVm0YnlszMlhxKw54Aobero54Q#v=onepage&q=crop%20system%20for%20minimizing%20compaction&f=false
Thank you, Rama Dubey. My master's thesis regards soil compaction prediction models and one thing I'm noticing is, even though the models tell what should be done in order to minimize compaction, most farmers are not willing to switch to better practices. I still can't figure out why.
As a farmer there are times when tillage will be recommended and needed. So while no till is laudable it is not a panacea. In that regard targeted tillage should be a more appropriate goal.
One of the critical topics is that tillage in too wet conditions can be devastating.
In terms of equipment the use of floatation type tires can be of fundamental importance. In a systematic sense we need to restrict tillage only in case of defined need.
For the important problem of subsoil compaction areas these need to clearly defined so appropriate strategies can be developed related to them. In a chemical sense when soils have non optimized pH and Calcium the neutralization and Calcium optimization can do wonders on soil structure. There is a robust literature on the role of soil organic matter to soil structure so the system plan should include the monitoring of soil organic matter and setting goals to optimize it.
The integration of grass farming into a grain production system is a good example of how tillage can be used sustainability and soil resources can be optimized. Deep rooted tap rooted plants are considered excellent for a biological strategy to open compacted layers in soil. Natural tillage by soil fauna is another strategy as earthworms can move more soil and improve soil better than any physical or chemical approach.
On a technical level the ability to use ground penetrating radar should be something that can be employed to remediate subsoil compaction layers but has not been in common use but could offer some great potential for challenges with compaction.
Minimizing soil compaction in a crop system may results in supplying to the system : (i) Ca or Mg or (ii) organic matter or (iii) using herbaceous or grass or crops with longer and deep roots or (iv) refer to a deep ploughing in order to improve the soil structure.
Agri-sc conditioner maybe a choice to minimizing soil compaction for a drought crop system. And Paddy-upland Rotation could minimize the soil compaction for paddy field.
Dear Thiago,
the most efficient (and ancient) method for minimizing soil compaction is to increase mulch and soil organic matter. Just google these terms and you will find thouds of papers.
Use of different appropriate cover crops with deep rooting systems and cover crops that meet other objectives of the farmer in the cropping system. This will contribute to biological sub-soiling as well as other benefits. l
Thank you all for your kind replies. I really was not aware of so many available soil compaction-mitigating options. It makes me wonder why we still face this sort of soil degradation. It seems that minimizing soil compaction is in fact a combination of factors: tyre, inflation pressure, soil moisture, organic matter, forrage, cover crops.
if it applies to your conditions, change to organic farming!
Article Agricultural production technique and infiltration - Signifi...
Dear Thiago,
Many agricultural practices will help you to reduce soil compactation.
Firstly, reducing the use of machinery is important, as well as reducing livestock stocking rates (if any).
Moreover, measures focused on improving soil quality and content of organic matter will also reduce soil compactation, as they increase aireation. In this sense, I agree with Ewald, that management practices based on conservative agriculture (agroecology, organic farming, etc.) will help, such as: mulching, cover crops, crop residues, intercropping, use of organic fertilizers, etc.
In some of my studies (I recommend you my review on 2016) you can find references about the benefits and the need to use these agricultural practices to improve soil quality and sustainability of production systems.
Regards,
Alfredo J. Escribano.
There are several practices for avoiding the soil compaction: the most effective way to minimize soil compaction is to avoid field operations when soil moisture is at or near field capacity. Soil compaction will be less severe when soil tillage, fertilizer application and planting operations occur when the field is dry. Adding compost in the soil is one of the best ways to combat compaction. By cutting down on the traffic in a field, compaction can be managed and the subsoil allowed regenerating. The compaction caused by rainfall can be minimized by plant residue on the soil surface. Adoption of conservation tillage practices.
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