ADVERTISEMENT

If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Wiley InterScience

Annals of Applied Biology

Annals of Applied Biology

Volume 117 Issue 3, Pages 653 - 666

Published Online: 28 Jun 2008

Journal compilation © 2010 Association of Applied Biologists



< Previous Abstract  |  Next Abstract >

Save Article to My Profile      Download Citation      Request Permissions

Abstract |  References  |  Full Text: PDF (Size: 699K)  | Related Articles | Citation Tracking

Effect of soil compaction on growth, yield and light interception of selected crops
A. M. ASSAEED 1 , M. McGOWAN 1 , P. D. HEBBLETHWAITE 1 J. C. BRERETON 1
  1 Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham, School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leics LEI 2 5RD, UK
Copyright 1990 Association of Applied Biologists
KEYWORDS
Soil compaction • light interception • light conversion coefficients • water use efficiency

ABSTRACT

AbstractReferences

The response of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare, cvs Carnival and Atem), faba beans (Vicia faba, cv. Maris Bead), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris, cv. Monoire), forage maize (Zea mays, cv. Leader), forage peas (Pisum sativum, cv. Poneka) and white turnip (Brassica campestris, cv. Barkant) to topsoil compaction was investigated in a three year trial. Soil compaction was induced by tractor wheeling after crop sowing.

Compaction reduced leaf area and dry matter accumulation in all crops in every season. Yield of barley was reduced by 29%, 27% and 40% in 1984, 1986 and 1987 respectively. Yield of maize, peas and turnip decreased by 33%, 14% and 13% in 1986 and 25%, 16% and 19% in 1987. Yields of beans and sugar beet were decreased by 34% and 35% respectively in 1984.

Light interception was decreased in all crops in all three years of study but, with the exception of maize in 1987, the efficiency of conversion of radiant energy to dry matter was not significantly affected by soil compaction. It is concluded that reduced dry matter production and yield due to soil compaction was more a consequence of reduced light interception because of restricted leaf area development rather than as a result of an impaired ability of crops to utilise intercepted radiant energy.


Accepted 20 August 1990, Received 27 November 1989

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1744-7348.1990.tb04831.x About DOI

Related Articles

  • Find other articles like this in Wiley InterScience
  • Find articles in Wiley InterScience written by any of the authors

Wiley InterScience is a member of CrossRef.

Cross Ref Member


Sign up here
E-mail alerts
Sign up for e-alerts
Journal Backfiles