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)

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...