Crop cover root channels may alleviate soil compaction effects on soybean crop

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 1403 - 1409
• Main Authors: Williams, S.M, Weil, R.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison Soil Science Society of America 01.07.2004; Soil Science Society; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica; Cereal crops; Cover crops; crop yield; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; Crops; deep tillage; Drought; forage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Cropping systems and patterns; Glycine max; grain crops; Moisture content; mulches; no-tillage; Physical properties; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; radishes; Raphanus sativus; root channels; Roots; rye; Secale cereale; Soil compaction; Soil conservation; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; Soil permeability; Soil science; Soil sciences; Soil water; Soybeans; Structure, texture, density, mechanical behavior. Heat and gas exchanges; Subsoils; Tillage; United States; North America; Maryland; America; Cultivated soil; Cover crop; Zero tillage; Compaction; Preceding crop; Temperate zone; Soil conservation; Agronomy; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Soil science; Rooting; Ultisols; Cultural practice; Minirhizotron; Root; Cropping system; Channel; Vegetation effect; Experimental study; Glycine max; Soil management; Grain legume; Silt loam soil; Leguminosae; Spermatophyta; Oil plant (vegetal)
• ISSN: 0361-5995; 1435-0661
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2004.1403

Deep-rooted cover crops may help alleviate effects of soil compaction, especially in no-till systems. We evaluate compaction-alleviating ability of three Brassica cover crops and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.). Using a minirhizotron camera, we observed soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merr.] roots growing through compacted plowpan soil using channels made by decomposing cover crop roots. Soybean yield response to the preceding cover crops was most pronounced at the site with most severe drought and soil compaction. At this location, with or without deep tillage, soybean yields were significantly greater following a "forage radish + rye" combination cover crop. Rye left a thick mulch, resulting in conservation of soil water early in the season. Root channels left by forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. 'Diachon') may have provided soybean roots with low resistance paths to subsoil water. Due to lower than normal winter precipitation, this study was a conservative test of the cover crops' ability to alleviate the effects of soil compaction.