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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #93159
Title: ROOT PENETRATION OF LAB SIMULATED COASTAL PLAIN HARDLAYERS

Author
item Busscher, Warren
item LIPIEC, J - INST AGROPHYSICS, POLAND

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tillage can be reduced by planting genotypes with better root penetrability. We compared penetrability of two soybean genotypes in a hardpan soil. The soil was the Ap horizon of Norfolk loamy sand. Soil cores were compacted to bulk densities of 1.40, 1.55, 1.65, and 1.75 g/cm**3. One set of cores was used to measure penetrability. Another set was used to build columns with cores of increasing bulk density with depth. Check columns were also built with all cores compacted to 1.4 g/cm**3. Two soybean genotypes (Glycine max. L. genotypes Essex and PI416937) were grown in columns until they died. Both grew better in soils with lower penetrability. PI416937 had less root growth than Essex; but its root growth was not reduced by compaction as much as Essex's. PI416937 was potentially better adapted to compaction. This comparison was possible because genotypic growth was contrasted in multi-layered columns and then compared with growth in check columns. Further use of the test can screen other genotypes for tolerance to soil compaction.