Effect of Soil Compaction on the Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Zea Mays L.

Abstract

Agricultural mechanization and open livestock grazing contribute to soil compaction and consequently on crop productivity. This study used a greenhouse experiment to identify the effects of soil compaction on the growth, productivity and nutrient uptake of maize plant seedlings grown at three bulk density (1.17, 1.37, and 1.45 g cm-3) and three water contents (0.12, 0.18, and 0.30 g/g soil). Shoot elongation and leaf area decreased significantly by 27.1 and 67.8% respectively at high compaction (P<0.05). Fresh and dry root mass also decreased significantly at high compaction by 39.1 and 37.8% respectively. Increase in soil compaction also reduced the grain yield by 18.8%. The adverse soil conditions created by increasing soil compaction accounted for the reduction in nutrient uptake. Increase in penetration resistance of the soil reduced the plants ability to absorb nitrogen (13.5%), potassium (51.4%), magnesium (50.4%) and sodium (51.5%) whereas the concentration of calcium and phosphorous were higher when soil resistance varied between 3 and 4 MPa. The relationship between root production, shoot elongation, root biomass and soil strength shows that increase in soil strength/compaction was detrimental to maize production. High soil compaction negatively influenced plant ability to absorb minerals from the soil thus decreased the yield performance.

Effect of Accelerated Physical Weathering of Coarse Soils and Wetting and drying Cycle on Some Soil Physical Properties

“…between (0.01 -0.1) and (0.1 -1.0 MPa), and thus there would be no hindrance to the growth of roots of the plants and thus affected plant growth, that the specific rate of obstruction of plant roots is 2.5 MPa according to [32] and [12], which is reflected in the productivity [33] and may be due to the decrease in soil penetration resistance with the increase in DW cycles despite the increase in the proportion of clay separation in the three treatments as a result of mechanical crushing to the shrinkage of the soil which increased by increasing the DW cycles (figures 2 and 3) and the change that occurred on the soil structure and thus led to this result. Table 3 while the FC treatment decreased in the seventh cycle, its percentage is 50% compared to the first cycle of the same treatment, and this decrease is important and beneficial for the movement of roots, and thus the plants obtain their need of water and nutrients [34]. While all of them were classified at a low level except for the WOC treatment in DW1, which was rated very low, the reason for the presence of the treatments within the low level is due to the poor construction in the treatment as mentioned earlier, and the rest of the treatments to the cracking that occurred from the shrinkage and swelling of the soil shown in figures ( 3) and (4).…”

A Systematic Review of the Potential of a Dynamic Hydrogel as a Substrate for Sustainable Agriculture

“…The conventional approach to growing plants requires soil. Nonetheless, soils typically possess poor aeration, drainage, and water-holding abilities and could harbour numerous microorganisms and debris on the surfaces [72]. Consequently, utilising another alternative as a growing media has captured global interest as it might reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases and diminish labour requirements due to less irrigation frequency to tackle eradication process challenges [7].…”

Draught Requirements of Tillage Tines in Clay Soil under Indoor Soil Bin Conditions

“…The wet soil was having a moisture content at the dry basis of 31.6% at 5 cm depth, 28% at 10 cm depth and 3.6% at 15 cm depth. The compacted soil in the bin was first tested, to determine the resistivity of the soil to penetration by using a penetrometer (Olubanjo and Yessoufou, 2019). After the test, the mean penetration resistant value for the depth measured was 377.1 N/mm 2 for 5cm deep and 2465.6 N/mm 2 for 10 cm deep for the dry basis.…”