Traffic effect on soil compaction and yields of wheat in Spain

Abstract

The general objective of this paper was to quantify the changes in the physical properties of an Aridisol soil and the effect on wheat yield due to agricultural tractors traffic in the Vélez Blanco District, Almería Spain. Parameters measured were cone index (CI) in the 0-600 mm depth profile, bulk density (BD) and rut depth; the variable wheat yields (WY) was measured too. The traffic treatments applied were: 0 (control plot), 1, 3, 5, and 7 tractor passes in the same tracks. Each experimental plot was trafficked with two tractors, one light (60 kN) and one heavy (80 kN). In topsoil (0-200 mm), up to five passes of the heavy (HT) and light tractors (LT), as in one and three passes, the BD and CI values responded to the ground pressure being higher in absolute value for LT. For the 200 to 400 mm depth range HT caused higher CI (1,570 to 2,200 kPa) and BD (1.38 to 1.68 Mg m -3 ) values than LT. Eight months later, WY was evaluated in tractor's track areas and decreases in the range of 18-38%, were measured. For seven passes the applications of total loads of 80 and 60 kN increased BD up to 1.5 Mg m -3 at depths of 200-600 mm. Although soil had high bulk density prior to traffic treatments, a significant increment of subsoil compaction still occurred due to the high traffic intensities applied.Additional key words: axle load; bulk density; cone index; rut depth. ResumenEfectos del tráfico del tractor sobre la distribución de la compactación del suelo y los rendimientos de trigo en EspañaEl objetivo general del estudio fue cuantificar los cambios producidos en las propiedades físicas de un suelo Aridisol y los efectos sobre el rendimiento del trigo debido al tráfico de tractores agrícolas en Vélez Blanco, Almería, España. Los parámetros analizados fueron índice de cono (IC) a una profundidad de 0-600 mm, densidad aparente (DA) y profundidad de huella; también se analizó la variable rendimiento del trigo (RT). Los tratamientos de tráfico aplicados fueron: cero (parcela testigo), y uno, tres, cinco, y siete pasadas de tractor sobre la misma huella. En cada parcela experimental se utilizaron dos tractores, uno ligero (60 kN) y uno pesado (80 kN). En el horizonte superficial (0-200 mm), hasta las cinco pasadas de los tractores pesados (TP) y ligeros (TL), los valores de DA y de IC respondieron a la presión en el área de contacto, siendo más alto en valor absoluto para TL cuando pasó una y tres veces. Para el rango de profundidad 200-400 mm, TP causó valores más altos de IC (1.570 a 2.200 kPa) y DA (1,38 a 1,68 Mg m -3 ) que TL. RT se evaluó ocho meses después sobre el área pisada, observándose una disminución en un rango de 18-38%. Las cargas totales aplicadas de 80 y 60 kN, con siete pasadas, aumentaron DA hasta 1,5 Mg m -3 en el rango 200-600 mm. A pesar de que el suelo presentó una alta DA antes de aplicar los tratamientos, se observó un incremento significativo de la compactación del subsuelo por las altas intensidades de tráfico aplicadas.Palabras clave adicionales: carga en el eje; índice de cono; profund...

Influência da pressão interna dos pneus e da velocidade de deslocamento nos parâmetros operacionais de um trator agrícola e nas propriedades físicas do solo

“…M édias seguidas de mesma letra na coluna não diferem entre si, pelo teste de Tukey, ao nível de 10% de probabilidade. TOLON-BECERRA et al, (2011), avaliando o efeito do tráfego de um trator leve e um pesado na compactação do solo, observaram que, entre 0,0 e 0,20 m de profundidade, o índice de cone e a densidade do solo responderam à pressão aplicada ao solo tanto para uma passada dos tratores, quanto para 3 e 5, sendo os maiores valores absolutos obtidos para o trator leve, o que foi justificado pelos autores pela menor área de contato pneu-solo apresentada por este.…”

Annually repeated traffic in delayed Miscanthus×giganteus harvests; effects on crop response and mitigation measures

“…Douglas (1994) reported that the vast majority of research findings up to that date have indicated a strong negative relationship between wheel-induced soil compaction and herbage dry matter yield. Tolon-Becerra et al (2011) working with a wheat crop recorded trafficked zone yield decreases of 18, 22, 30 and 38% following 1, 3, 5 and 7 passes, respectively, of a heavy tractor (8160 kg) when compared with the untrafficked control. In short rotation coppice willow, heavy compaction reduced stem biomass production byapproximately 12% overall and increased soil strength and bulk density down to a depth of 40 cm (Souch et al, 2004).…”

Effect of Harvest Timing and Soil Moisture Content on Compaction, Growth and Harvest Yield in a Miscanthus Cropping System

“…Also the adverse effects of high axle load on compaction have been reported by Duiker [31], Hakansson et al [32] and Arvidsson [33], Alakukku [17], Botta et al [34] and Tolon-Becerra et al [16] reported on the negative effects of intensity of traffic on compaction while Hamza et al [35] Forristal [36] and Schjønning et al [37] reported on the negative effects of inflation pressure on compaction.…”

“…Tolon-Becerra et al [16] working with wheat (Triticum spp.) recorded trafficked yield decreases of 18%, 22%, 30% and 38% following 1, 3, 5 and 7 passes respectively of a heavy tractor (8160 kg) when compared with the untrafficked control.…”