Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Semnan University

2 Asgari

3 Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Introduction: Soil compaction has become a widespread problem in the world and it is considered as one of the main factors affecting land degradation in arid and semi-arid agricultural land. Compaction in arable soils is a gradual phenomenon that appearing over time and most important factors that influence it include: soil properties, high clay content, low organic matter, and frequency of wet-dry in the soil, impervious layer of soil, load heavy agricultural implements and soil and water mismanagement. Compaction induced soil degradation affects about 68 million hectares of land globally. The vast majority of compaction in modern agriculture is caused by vehicular traffic. Carbon sequestration by long-term management operation of the plant and soil, not only increase the soil carbon storage but also lead to reduce the carbon exchange and greenhouse gases emissions like CO2 from the soil profile. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of soil compaction on carbon and nitrogen sequestration of wheat and soil and some soil physical properties such as: aggregate stability, saturated soil moisture content, bulk density and soil porosity.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was accomplished in which is located near Aq Qala in a randomized completely block design (with 4 treatments and 3 replications). Soil compaction was artificially created by using a 5/7 ton heavy tractor. The treatments arrangements were: 1) T1: control, 2) T2: twice passing of tractor, 3) T3: four time of passing tractor, and 4) T4: six time of passing heavy tractor. Utilize of all agricultural inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, etc.) has been identical for all treatments. Since rain-fed farming is the common method to cultivation of cereals in the study area, so no complementary irrigation was carried out in this period. In this study, after the measurement of the parameters, the data were analyzed by using SPSS 16.0 Software. LSD test was used for comparison of means.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the different levels of soil compaction significantly increased soil bulk density. All the soil compaction treatments have caused a significant reduction on carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soil and wheat, soil aggregates stability and saturated soil moisture values. In the other hand the amount of soil pH and EC has increased significantly by increasing soil compaction levels that Indicates the negative effect of compaction on salinization of arable land.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the negative effects of soil compaction on soil physiochemical attributes are dependent on escalation of compaction. In total, even low levels of soil compaction (the treatment of two passes of a heavy tractor) is able to remarkably alter soil physiochemical attributes and thus carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soil and wheat. Induced changes in nitrogen and carbon sequestration levels are important for who concerned of global warming and climate change. Regarding the inability of deactivating soil compaction adverse effects in the deep soil layers of agricultural fields is the best way of handling and preventing soil compaction. Using these sluggish renewable resources should be consistence with land capability and its physical nature. This type of land use will result in sustainable development. From the remarks given here, it might be concluded that revising agricultural regimes and production methods is inevitable. On this ground, revisiting current agricultural systems should be considered and an urgent demand for state-of-the-art methods consistent with environmental objectives is being felt. To prevent soil compaction as much as possible, tractors and machinery traffic must be avoided to an acceptable level and this is of high priority during the time which soil is wet. It is more preferable to perform the operations with lighter machineries. As much as possible in a sophisticated agricultural plan these recommendations must be considered:
Increasing soil organic matter, leaving crop residue from the previous crop at the soil surface, using crops with deep-and-vertical-penetrating roots during crop rotation, tillage depth variation in different years, using super absorbent for better ventilation and reduces soil compaction, implementing no-tillage system to reduce traffic of farming machineries, maintaining plant residues at the soil surface, applying lacking nutrients to the soil, and subsoil operations to reduce the detrimental effects. As a field-based study, the results could be transferred to the local farmers. Authorities have to remove the obstacles to deliver the message to the farmers in order to enhance production and reach nation self-sufficiency.

Keywords

1- Abdi N. 1390. Study Factors affecting soil organic carbon sequestration in Golestankuh Khansar rangelands, Soil Science Congress of Iran, Tabriz.
2- Ahmad N. 2006. Response of wheat to subsurface soil compaction and improvement strategies. Department of Agronomy Factuality of crop and Food Sciences. University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
3- Alami MH. 1360. Soil and Water (Translation). The first edition of Tehran University Press, issue 1792.
4- Al-Adawi S.S., and Reeder R.C. 1996.Compaction and sub soiling effects on corn and soybean yields and soil physical properties. Transactions of the ASAE., 39(5): 1641-1649.
5- Angers D.A., and Mehyus G.R. 1993. Aggregate stability to water. p 651-657, in: Cartner, M.R (Eds.), Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis. Canadian Society of Soil Science, Lewis Pub, Boca Ratdon, Canada.
6- Barzegar A. 2001. Advanced soil physic. Press. Shahid Chamran University. 332.
7- Bayat H. 1385. Effect of tillage systems and a variety of farm machinery on Bulk Density, Cone Index and Structural Stability of a sandy loam soil. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources 4: 451 to 463
8- BertolinoAna V.F.A., Fernandes N., Miranda B., and Andrea P. 2010. Effects of plough pan development on surface hydrology and on soil physical properties in Southeastern Brazilian plateau. Journal of Hydrology, 393:94–104.
9- Hajabbasi M. 1386. Soil physical properties. First Printing, Publishing Isfehan University of Technology.
10- Bouwman L.A., and Arts W.B.M. 2000. Effects of soil compaction on the relationships between nematodes, grass production and soil physical properties. Applied Soil Ecology, 14:213–222.
11- Carter M.R. 1996. Analysis of soil organic matter storage in agroecosystems. In: Carter, M.R., Stewart, B.A. (Eds.), Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils. CRC/Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 3±11.
12- Clayton H.A., and Smith K.A. 1994. Measurement of nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized grassland using closed chambers. J. Geophysics. Res., in press.
13- Elliot E.T. 1986. Aggregate Structure and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in native and cultivated. Soil Society America Journal, 50:627-633.
14- Famiglietti J.S., Rudnicki J.W., and Rodell M. 1998. Variability in surface moisture content along a hillslope transect: Rattlesnake Hill, Texas. Journal of Hydrology, 210: 259-281
15- Ferreras L.A., Costa J.L., Garsia F.O., and Pecorari C. 1999. Effect of no-tillage on some soil physical properties of a structural degraded petrocalcic paleudoll of the southern Pampa of Argentina. Soil and Tillage Res. 54: 31-39.
16- Flowers M.D., and Lal R. 1998. Axle load and tillage effects on soil physical properties and soybean grain yield on a Mollic Ochraqualf in northwest Ohio. Soil and Tillage Research, 48:21–35.
17- Gallaher R.N., Weldon C.O., Boswell F.C. 1976. A semiauto-mated procedure for total nitrogen in plant and soil samples. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 40, 887–889
18- Golchin A., Oades, J.M., Skjemstad J.O., and Clarke P. 1994b. Soil structure and carbon cycling .Australian Journal of Soil Research, 32: 1043–1068.
19- Hassan F.U., Ahmad M., Ahmad N., and KaleemAbassi M. 2007. Effects of subsoil compaction on yield and yield attributes of wheat in the sub-humid region of Pakistan. Soil and Tillage Research, 96(1-2): 361-366.
20- Hikansson I., and Medvedevb V.W. 1995. Protection of soils from mechanical overloading by establishing limits for stresses caused by heavy vehicles. Soil and Tillage Research, 35:85-97.
21- Horn R., Domzal H., Slwinska-Jukiewicz A. and Van Ouwerkerk C. 1995. Soil compaction processes and their effects on the structure of arable soils and the environment. Soil and Tillage Research, 35: 23-36.
22- Ishaq M., Ibrahim M., Hassan A., Saeed M., and Lal R. 2001. Subsoil compaction effects on crops in Punjab, Pakistan. Soil and Tillage Research, 60: 153-161.
23- Jung H.D., Moncrieff J.F., Voorhees W.B., and Swan J.B. 2001. Soil compaction: causes, effects, and control. Section I: Soil compaction, causes and consequences. Section II: Surface compaction, (density effects due to tillage). 20p.
24- Khalilian A., Hood C.E., Palmer J.H., Garner T.H., and Bathke G.R. 1991. Soil compaction and crop response to wheat/soybean inter seeding, Trans. ASAE, 34 (6): 2299–2303.
25- Klute A., and Dirksen C. 1986. Hydraulic conductivity and diffusivity: laboratory methods. In: A. Klute (ed). Method of soil analysis, Part 1.Agronomy 9 Soil Science Society of America Madison. W.I, pp: 687-734.
26- Lithourgidis A.S., Dhima K.V., Damalas C.A., Vasilakoglou I.B., and Eleftherohorinos I.G. 2006. Tillage effects on wheat emergence and yield at varying seeding rates and on labor and fuel consumption. Crop Science, 46: 1187-1192
27- Martinez E., Fuentes J.P., Silva P., Valle S., and Acevedo E. 2008. Soil physical properties and wheat root growth as affected by no-tillage and conventional tillage systems in a Mediterranean environment of Chile. Soil and Tillage Research, 99:232–244.
28- Motavalli P.P., Stevens W.E., and Hartwig G. 2003. Remediation of subsoil compaction and compaction effects on corn N availability by deep tillage and application of poultry manure in a sandy-textured soil. Soil and Tillage Research, 71:121–131.
29- Nelson D.W., Sommers L.E. 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page, A.L., Miller R.H., Keeney D.R., (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis, part 2, second ed. Agronomy (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis, part 2, second ed. Agronomy
30- Oades J.M. 1984. Soil organic matter and structural stability: mechanisms and implications for management. Plant and Soil, 76: 319–337.
31- Office of Educational Technology Services. 1381. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. Number4 joined. 6the publishing of agricultural education. Page 87-107.
32- Oussible M., Crookston P. K., and Larson W. E. 1992. Subsurface compaction reduces the root and shoot growth and grain yield of wheat. Agron. J, 84, 34-38.
33- Rab M.A. 2004. Recovery of soil physical properties from compaction and soil profile disturbance caused by logging of native forest in Victorian Central Highlands, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 19:329–340.
34- Radford B.J., Yule D.F., Garry D.Mc., and playford C. 2001.Crop responses to applied soil compaction and to compaction repair treatment. Soil and Tillage Researche, 61 (3-4): 157-16.
35- Raza W., Yousaf S., Niaz A., Rashed M. Kh., and Hussain I. 2005. Subsoil compaction effects on soil properties, nutrient uptake and yield of maize fodder. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 37:933–940.
36- Reicosky D.C., Millington R.J., Klute A., and Peters, D.B. 1972.Patterns of water uptake and root distribution of soyebeans in the presence of water table. Agromony Journal, 64:292–297.
37- Richard G., Cousin I., Sillon J.F., Brund A., and Guearif J. 2001. Effect of compaction on the porosity of a silty soil: infuence on unsaturated hydraulic properties. European Journal of Soil Science, 52:49–58.
38- Safadust A., Mahboubi A., Mosadeghi M., and Nouruzi A. 2004. Short term effect of tillage systems and organic matter on the corn length root and soil physical properties, P 134-135. Soil Conservation and Watershed Research Institute. In: 9th soil science congress of Iran.
39- Schillinger W.F. 2005. Tillage method and sowing rate relations for dryland spring wheat, barley, and oat. Crop Science, 45: 2636-2643.
40- Shamsabadi H. And Rafiee sh. 1383. Effect of different tillage methods on wheat yield. Third Congress of Agricultural Engineering. 12-10 September, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman.
41- Tarawally m.a., Medina H., Frometa M.E., and Itza C.A. 2004. Field compaction at different soil-water status: effects on pore size distribution and soil water characteristics of a Rhodic Ferralsol in Western Cuba. Soil and Tillage Research., 76: 95-103.
42- Tardieu F., Zhang J., Katerji N., Bethenod O., Palmer S., Davies W.J. 1992. Xylem ABA controls the stomatal conductance of field-grown maize subjected to soil compaction or soil drying. Plant Cell Environ. 15, 193–197
43- Tisdall J.M., Oades J.M. 1982. Organic matter and water-stable aggregates in soils. J. Soil Sci. 33, 141–163.
44- Tripathi R.P., Sharma P., and Singh S. 2007. Influence of tillage and crop residue on soil physical properties and yields of rice and wheat under shallow water table conditions. Soil and Tillage Research, 92: 221-227.
45- Turner N.C. 1997. Further progress in crop water relations. Adv. Agron. 58, 293–338.
46- Upendra M.S. 2008. Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration as affected by long-term tillage,cropping systems, and nitrogen fertilizer sources. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 127: 234–240.
47- Van Ouwerkerk C., and Soane B.D. 1994. Conclusions and recommendations for further research on soil compaction in crop production. In: Soane, B.D. Van, Ouwerkerk, C. (Eds.), Soil Compaction in Crop Production. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 627–642.
48- Zanatta J.A. 2006. Soil organic carbon accumulation and carbon costs relatedto tillage, cropping systems and nitrogen fertilization in a subtropical Acrisol. Departamento de Solos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, P. O. Box 15100, 91501-970 Porto Alegre/RS, Brazi b Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Agrı´cola, Universidade Federal do Parana´, 80035-050 Curitiba/PR, Brazil.
CAPTCHA Image