Settling and trafficking of a soil after tillage causes rapid changes in the soil physical condition until a new equilibrium is reached. In the soil studied, a Wasco (coarse-loamy, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic Torriorthent) sandy loam, soil compaction reduces infiltration rates, which under grower conditions could result in inadequate infiltration of irrigation water to supply crop requirements. Our objective was to evaluate important management practices as they relate to changes in the infiltration rate of a sandy loam soil. Factors evaluated were traffic, tillage between crops, and the formation of channels by roots of perennial crops. Tillage between crops increased the infiltration rate during the first part of the season in trafficked soils but decreased or had no effect on nontrafficked soil. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) increased the infiltration rate fourfold during a 2-yr period in a heavily compacted soil. An increase in bulk density from 1.6 to 1.8 Mg m-3 decreased infiltration rate 54% in the field. Hydraulic conductivity of undisturbed cores was at least seven times larger than that measured in columns of disturbed soil (same bulk density). This difference is believed to be the result of natural channels in the undisturbed soil that are destroyed when the soil is disturbed. Under controlled traffic, when surface seal is not a problem, tillage will not be necessary to obtain adequate infiltration rates except in the wheel paths.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies measured a long-term increase in infiltration rate in a sandy loam soil with time when alfalfa (Medicago saliva L., cv. WL514) was grown. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was directplanted into alfalfa to determine if the high infiltration rates measured under alfalfa culture could be maintained in cotton under either a till or no-till system. Treatments were no-till or tillage to the 0.15 -m depth just before the cotton was planted. Prior compaction levels created by harvest traffic applied to the alfalfa made the soil loose or compacted. Cotton was planted flat and irrigated as a basin. Infiltration rates measured 2 h after water was applied and averaged for the season were 101 (no-till, loose), 56 (till, loose), 82 (no-till, compacted), and 42 mm/h (till, compacted). All the infiltration rates were much higher than normally measured for cotton in these soils. Water flow in the 5-yr-old alfalfa was determined to be mainly through the soil macropore system. High infiltration rates measured in the no-till cotton were also probably the result of flow through the macropores.