Effects of tractor traffic on soil compaction, water infiltration and soil erosion in tilled and grassed vineyards

Author(s):  
Marcella Biddoccu ◽  
Giorgio Capello ◽  
Eugenio Cavallo

<p>Soil erosion is affected by rainfall temporal pattern and intensity variability. In vineyards, machines traffic is implemented with particular intensity from late spring to harvest, and it is responsible of soil compaction, that likely affects soil hydraulic properties, runoff, and soil erosion. Additionally, hydraulic and physical properties of soil are highly influenced by vineyards’ inter-rows soil management. The effect of machines traffic on soil compaction, hydrological and erosional processes has been investigated on a sloping vineyards with different inter-row soil managements (tillage and permanent grass cover) in the Alto Monferrato area (Piedmont, NW Italy). During the investigation (November 2016 – October 2018) soil water content, rainfall, runoff, and soil erosion were continuously monitored. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), soil penetration resistance (PR) and bulk density (BD) were recorded periodically in portions of inter-rows affected and not by the machine traffic. In order to take into account temporal and management variability of soil compaction and hydrological properties, field-monitored data were statistically analysed, in order to identify existing relationships between climate and management variables and soil physical and hydrological variables. Very different yearly precipitation characterized the observed period, leading to higher bulk density and lower infiltration rates were in the wetter year, especially in the tilled vineyard, whereas soil penetration resistance was generally higher in the grassed plot, and in drier conditions. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance in tracked soil of the tilled plot increase, compared to the grassed plot, after only one to three tractor passages following tillage operation, especially in the topsoil (first 10 cm). Soil compaction affects water infiltration, especially in the wet year. In the tilled vineyard, one tractor passage on wet soil after tillage operation dramatically reduced Kfs from over 1000 to near 1 mm h<sup>-</sup><sup>1</sup>, while with grass cover Kfs remained above the usual rain-intensity values, allowing water to infiltrate the soil. By means of linear and multilinear regression, significant relationships have been found to relate hydraulic conductivity and soil penetration resistance with soil water content, weather variables and a factor that takes into account the number of tractor passages and the elapsed time from last soil disturbance. Lastly, runoff and soil erosion were higher in the tilled plot, even if lower than the long-period average values. Indeed, in the wet year, management with grass cover reduced considerably runoff (-76%) and soil loss (-83%) compared to tillage and, in the dry season.</p>

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Capello ◽  
Marcella Biddoccu ◽  
Stefano Ferraris ◽  
Eugenio Cavallo

Soil erosion is affected by rainfall temporal patterns and intensity variability. In vineyards, machine traffic is implemented with particular intensity from late spring to harvest, and it is responsible for soil compaction, which likely affects soil hydraulic properties, runoff, and soil erosion. Additionally, the hydraulic and physical properties of soil are highly influenced by vineyards’ inter-rows soil management. The effects on soil compaction and both hydrological and erosional processes of machine traffic were investigated on a sloping vineyard with different inter-row soil managements (tillage and permanent grass cover) in the Alto Monferrato area (Piedmont, NW Italy). During the investigation (November 2016–October 2018), soil water content, rainfall, runoff, and soil erosion were continuously monitored. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil penetration resistance, and bulk density were recorded periodically in portions of inter-rows affected and not affected by the machine traffic. Very different yearly precipitation characterized the observed period, leading to higher bulk density and lower infiltration rates in the wetter year, especially in the tilled vineyard, whereas soil penetration resistance was generally higher in the grassed plot and in drier conditions. In the wet year, management with grass cover considerably reduced runoff (−76%) and soil loss (−83%) compared to tillage and in the dry season. Those results highlight the need to limit the tractor traffic, in order to reduce negative effects due to soil compaction, especially in tilled inter-rows.


Soil Research ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Henderson ◽  
A Levett ◽  
D Lisle

Quantitative models to predict the effects of soil compaction on wheat yields are being developed for the northern sandplains of Western Australia. An understanding of the relationships between soil water content (W), bulk density (p), compactibility and soil penetration resistance (P) is required. Thirteen subsoils from W.A. sandplain soils were tested for compactibility. As the amounts of very coarse sand or clay in the soil increased, the maximum density (�max.) achieved with a standard compactive effort also increased, while the critical soil water content (Wcrit,.) for maximum compactibility declined. The effects of p and W on P were investigated for five of the soils. The value of P was only slightly affected as W was reduced to less than 70% of the field capacity water content. As the soils were dried further, P increased exponentially. At all water contents, an increase in p was found to markedly increase P. Particle size distribution could be used to predict �max. and Wcrit., but could not be related to the effects of changes in p and W on P. The implications for the measurement and effects of soil compaction in the field are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viliam Nagy ◽  
Peter Šurda ◽  
Ľubomír Lichner ◽  
Attila J. Kovács ◽  
Gábor Milics

Abstract Soil compaction causes important physical modifications at the subsurface soil, especially from 10 to 30 cm depths. Compaction leads to a decrease in infiltration rates, in saturated hydraulic conductivity, and in porosity, as well as causes an increase in soil bulk density. However, compaction is considered to be a frequent negative consequence of applied agricultural management practices in Slovakia. Detailed determination of soil compaction and the investigation of a compaction impact on water content, water penetration depth and potential change in water storage in sandy loam soil under sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was carried out at 3 plots (K1, K2 and K3) within an experimental site (field) K near Kalinkovo village (southwest Slovakia). Plot K1 was situated on the edge of the field, where heavy agricultural equipment was turning. Plot K2 represented the ridge (the crop row), and plot K3 the furrow (the inter–row area of the field). Soil penetration resistance and bulk density of undisturbed soil samples was determined together with the infiltration experiments taken at all defined plots. The vertical bulk density distribution was similar to the vertical soil penetration resistance distribution, i.e., the highest values of bulk density and soil penetration resistance were estimated at the plot K1 in 15–20 cm depths, and the lowest values at the plot K2. Application of 50 mm of water resulted in the penetration depth of 30 cm only at all 3 plots. Soil water storage measured at the plot K2 (in the ridge) was higher than the soil water storage measured at the plot K3 (in the furrow), and 4.2 times higher than the soil water storage measured at the most compacted plot K1 on the edge of the field. Results of the experiments indicate the sequence in the thickness of compacted soil layers at studied plots in order (from the least to highest compacted ones): K2–K3–K1.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 849-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Tarpey ◽  
M F Jurgensen ◽  
B J Palik ◽  
R K Kolka

Periodic silvicultural thinnings (23.0, 27.6, 32.1 m2 ha-1 residual basal area) in a red pine stand growing on a sandy soil in north-central Minnesota over a 57-yr period increased soil compaction as the intensity of the thinning treatment increased. Of the three different methods used to measure soil compaction (bulk density, penetration resistance, and saturated hydraulic conductivity), saturated hydraulic conductivity was the most sensitive, decreasing by 60% in the 23.0 m2 ha-1 basal area thinning treatment, as compared with the uncut control. Soil bulk density measurements were more variable, but generally increased with increased thinning intensity. Few differences in soil penetration resistance were found among the three thinning treatments. In contrast, no evidence of soil compaction was detected in a northern hardwoods stand growing on a rocky loam soil in north-central Wisconsin that had three thinning treatments (13.8, 17.2, 20.6 m2 ha-1 residual basal area), a two- stage shelterwood harvest, and a 20-cm-diameter limit cut over a 50-yr period. With the increased demand for forest products, fuel reduction operations in high fire-risk stands, and biomass removal for energy production, more information is needed on the impact of multiple stand entries on soil compaction, and if compaction occurs, whether it will affect long-term soil productivity. Key words: Soil physical properties, bulk density, soil penetration resistance, hydraulic conductivity


Irriga ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amauri Nelson Beutler ◽  
José Frederico Centurion ◽  
Cassiano Garcia Roque ◽  
Zigomar Menezes de Souza

INFLUÊNCIA DA COMPACTAÇÃO E DO CULTIVO DE SOJA NOS ATRIBUTOS FÍSICOS E NA CONDUTIVIDADE HIDRÁULICA EM LATOSSOLO VERMELHO   Amauri Nelson BeutlerJosé Frederico CenturionCassiano Garcia RoqueZigomar Menezes de SouzaDepartamento de Solos e Adubos, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP. CEP 14870-000. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]  1 RESUMO              Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a influência da compactação e do cultivo de soja nos atributos físicos e na condutividade hidráulica de um Latossolo Vermelho de textura média. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Estadual Paulista – Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal (SP). Os tratamentos foram: 0, 1, 2, 4 e 6 passadas de um trator, uma ao lado da outra perfazendo toda a superfície do solo, com quatro repetições. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado para a condutividade hidráulica e, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2 para os atributos físicos. Foram coletadas amostras de solo nas faixas de profundidades de 0,02-0,05; 0,07-0,10 e 0,15-0,18 m, por ocasião da semeadura e após a colheita para determinação da densidade do solo, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade do solo. A condutividade hidráulica do solo foi determinada após a colheita. O tempo entre a semeadura e a colheita de soja foi suficiente para aumentar a compactação do solo apenas na condição de solo solto. A compactação do solo reduziu a condutividade hidráulica em relação a condição natural (mata) e a condição de solo solto, sendo que esta não foi reduzida, após a primeira passagem, com o aumento no número de passagens.  UNITERMOS: Densidade do solo, porosidade do solo, infiltração de água, soja.  BEUTLER, A. N.; CENTURION, J. F.; ROQUE, C. G.; SOUZA, Z. M. COMPACTION AND SOYBEAN GROW INFLUENCE ON PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES AND  HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN RED LATOSSOL SOIL   2 ABSTRACT  The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of compaction and soybean grow on physical attributes and hydraulic conductivity of a Red Latossol, medium texture soil. The experiment was carried out in the experimental farm at the Paulista State University  – Agricultural Science College, Jaboticabal – São Paulo state. The treatments were 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 side-by-side tractor strides on the soil surface with four replications. The experimental design was completely randomized for hydraulic conductivity and a 5 x 2 factorial design for soil physical attributes. Soil samples have been collected at 0.02-0.05, 0.07-0.10 and 0.15-0.18 m depth at sowing season and after harvest in order to determine soil bulk density, total porosity, macro and micro porosity. Soil hydraulic conductivity was determined after harvest. The time period between the soybean sowing and harvesting was enough to increase soil compaction only in loose soil condition. Soil compaction reduced hydraulic conductivity compared to the natural (forest) and loose soil condition  KEYWORDS: Bulk density, soil porosity, water infiltration, soybean.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-243
Author(s):  
Taufik Rizaldi ◽  
Sumono Sumono

Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Lubuk Bayas Kecapamatan Perbaungan Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai pada lahan sawah bertekstur lempung berpasir dengan kadar air 49.17% dan dry bulk density 1.26 g/cm3. Tahanan penetrasi tanah ditentukan melalui pengukuran tahanan penetrasi plat dengan menggunakan penetrometer secara langsung di sawah. Pengukuran dilakukan dengan ukuran plat 5x5 cm2, 5x10 cm2, 5x15 cm2 dan 5x20 cm2. Sudut penekanan 90o, 75o, 60o, 45o, 30o dan kedalaman penekanan 4 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm, 16 cm dan 20 cm. Dari hasil pengukuran diperoleh bahwa semakin besar ukuran plat maka gaya penekanan semakin besar namun tahanan penetrasi tanah semakin kecil. Sedangkan semakin dalam plat masuk ke tanah maka tahanan penetrasi tanah semakin besar. Semakin besar sudut penekanan tahanan penetrasi tanah semakin besar. Untuk ukuran plat, sudut tekan dan kedalaman penekanan plat yang sama pada kedalaman lumpur yang berbeda akan menghasilkan gaya penekanan dan tahanan penetrasi tanah yang berbeda. The study was conducted in Lubuk Bayas Village, Perbaungan Subdistrict, Serdang Bedagai District, in paddy fields with sandy clay texture with a water content of 49.17% and dry bulk density of 1.26 g / cm3. Soil penetration resistance iwas determined by measuring plate penetration resistance using a penetrometer directly in the rice field. Measurements were made with a plate size of 5x5 cm2, 5x10 cm2, 5x15 cm2 and 5x20 cm2. The angle of emphasis was 90o, 75o, 60o, 45o, 30o and the depth of emphasis was 4 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm, 16 cm and 20 cm. Results showed that the larger the plate size found, the greater the compressive force, but the penetration resistance of the soil got smaller. Whereas the deeper the plate entered the ground, the greater the penetration resistance of the soil occurred. The greater the angle of suppression the greater the penetration penetration of the soil. For the plate size, the pressure angle and depth of the same plate compression at different mud depths will result in a different force of suppression and soil penetration resistance.


2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Halde ◽  
A. M. Hammermeister ◽  
N. L. Mclean ◽  
K. T. Webb ◽  
R. C. Martin

Halde, C., Hammermeister, A. M., McLean, N. L., Webb, K. T. and Martin, R. C. 2011. Soil compaction under varying rest periods and levels of mechanical disturbance in a rotational grazing system. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 957–964. In Atlantic Canada, data are limited regarding the effect of grazing systems on soil compaction. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of intensive and extensive rotational pasture management treatments on soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, forage productivity and litter accumulation. The study was conducted on a fine sandy loam pasture in Truro, Nova Scotia. Each of the eight paddocks was divided into three rotational pasture management treatments: intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. Mowing and clipping were more frequent in the intensive than in the semi-intensive treatment. In the extensive treatment, by virtue of grazing in alternate rotations, the rest period was doubled than that of the intensive and semi-intensive treatments. Both soil bulk density (0–5 cm) and penetration resistance (0–25.5 cm) were significantly higher in the intensive treatment than in the extensive treatment, for all seasons. Over winter, bulk density decreased significantly by 6.8 and 3.8% at 0–5 and 5–10 cm, respectively. A decrease ranging between 40.5 and 4.0% was observed for soil penetration resistance over winter, at 0–1.5 cm and 24.0–25.5 cm, respectively. The intensive and semi-intensive treatments produced significantly more available forage for grazers annually than the extensive treatment. Forage yields in late May to early June were negatively correlated with spring bulk density.


2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 1488-1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos M. P. Vaz ◽  
Juliana M. Manieri ◽  
Isabella C. de Maria ◽  
Martinus Th. van Genuchten

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