The effect of tillage depth and traffic management on soil properties and root development during two growth stages of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Abstract. The management of agricultural soils during crop establishment can affect root development by changes to soil structure. This paper assesses the influence of tillage depth (250 mm, 100 mm & zero) and traffic management (conventional tyre pressure, low tyre pressure & no traffic) on wheat root system architecture during winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tillering and flowering growth stages (GS) on a long-term tillage trial site. The study revealed that zero-tillage systems increased crop yield through significantly greater root biomass, root length density and deeper seminal rooting analysed using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). In general, conventional pressure trafficking had a significant negative influence on crop yield, root development, bulk density and total soil porosity of deep and shallow tillage conventional pressure systems compared no traffic zero and deep tillage systems. Visual improvements in soil structure under zero tillage may have improved crop rooting in zero tillage treatments through vertical pore fissures (biopores), enhancing water uptake during the crop flowering period. This study highlights the implications of soil structural damage on root system architecture created by compaction in crop production. The constricted root systems found in conventional pressure shallow tillage, zero and deep tillage trafficked regimes emphasizes the importance of using technology to improve soil management and reduce the trafficked areas of agricultural fields.
