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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #274096
Title: In-Row subsoiling to disrupt soil compaction

Author
item Raper, Randy
item Busscher, Warren
item MEIER, A - North Carolina State University
item Balkcom, Kipling

Submitted to: Conservation Tillage Systems
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2017
Publication Date: 3/19/2020
Citation: Raper, R.L., Busscher, W.J., Meier, A.D., Balkcom, K.S. 2020. In-Row subsoiling to disrupt soil compaction. In J. Bergtold and M. Sailus (ed.) Conservation tillage systems in the Southeast: Production, profitability, and stewardship. SARE Handbook Series Book 15. Sustainable Agriculture Network. p.77-87.

Interpretive Summary: Conservation systems are beneficial methods of crop production that conserve valuable water resources, reduce soil erosion, and minimize energy consumption. This manuscript which was prepared for the Southern United States explains how that severely compacted soils can become optimally productive with the use of a method of soil disturbance that focuses on the compacted zones below the soil surface while minimally disturbing valuable crop residues. Methods of reducing the overall cost of this field operation are given. Using these recommendations will enable producers throughout the US to conserve resources and produce maximum yields while protecting the environment.

Technical Abstract: The Southeastern United States is blessed with plentiful and timely rainfall that is adequate in most years for crop production. However, soils from the region are highly weathered and often restrict root growth. Management of these soils often requires the use of deep tillage or in-row subsoiling to loosen compacted soil profiles for maximum crop yields. With escalating fuel prices, in-row subsoiling can be an expensive operation, but options do exist to conduct this field operation in a manner that loosens compacted soil while maintaining adequate crop residues on the soil surface and minimizing energy consumption. Using the recommendations contained in this chapter can reduce the fuel necessary for in-row subsoiling by more than 50% and enhance the overall productivity of most Southeastern soils.