Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163529
Title: ALLEVIATION OF COMPACTION IN A MICROIRRIGATED COASTAL SOIL

Author
item Busscher, Warren
item Bauer, Philip
item CAMP, CARL - ARS (RETIRED)

Submitted to: Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2004
Publication Date: 6/8/2004
Citation: Busscher, W., Bauer, P., Camp, C. 2004. Alleviation of compaction in a microirrigated coastal soil. In: 26th Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, June 8-9, 2004, Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 109-117. 2004 CDROM. Available: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/nsdl/sctcsa/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Compaction became so severe in a microirrigated loamy sand Aquic Hapludult soil that root limiting values of soil cone index occurred in both the A horizon and the genetic hardpan below it. Surface and deep tillage systems were evaluated for their ability to alleviate compaction. Surface tillage included disking, chiseling plus disking, or none; deep tillage included subsoiling or none. Chiseling and subsoiling were located in row or between rows to avoid laterals that were buried under each row or every other mid-row. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was planted in 38-in wide rows. Irrigation improved yield because both 2001 and 2002 were dry years. Tillage tools loosened the soil but compacted zones remained between subsoiled and chiseled areas. Subsoiling improved yield when it was performed in row where laterals were placed in the mid rows; but it did not improve yield when it was performed in mid rows where laterals were placed in the rows. Under this management system, it was just as productive and less expensive to install laterals in every other mid row than every row.