Blade loosening creates a deeper and near-stable rooting zone that raises the productivity of a structurally unstable texture contrast soil

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Hamilton ◽  
J. Sheppard ◽  
R. Bowey ◽  
P. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Rooting Zone ◽  
Texture Contrast

Improving the workability and raising the productivity of structurally weak and/or dispersive texture contrast soils has been the objective of many research projects. These have used applications of gypsum, with and without ripping the top 300–400mm depth of soil, and responses have been moderate and short lived. The approach taken in the present study was to ameliorate the soil by a combination of subtle soil disturbance to a depth of approximately 300mm using a specially designed blade loosener, with controlled traffic and no-tillage crop establishment practices. The aim was to use the roots of the stimulated plant growth to stabilise a loosened and deepened root zone. Comparative conditions in the 0–500mm depth of soil in blade-loosened and normal seedbeds were monitored over three very different growing seasons (2001, 2002 and 2003) using chemical analyses, bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR) and soil moisture content measurements. Productivity was monitored by dry matter and grain yield, and profitability by gross margin analyses. Structural stability of the rooting zone soil, or the lack of it, was shown to be a consequence of how the seasonal dynamics of the profile moisture content affected the probability of waterlogged surface soil conditions. In the normal seedbed (control) the surface soil quickly reconsolidated (BD ≥1500kgm–3), and subsoil BD (BD ≈ 1800kgm–3), PR (≥1.8MPa) and percentage saturation (≥95%) remained at levels restrictive of root growth. Conversely, the same properties in the surface and subsoil of the blade-loosened seedbed remained at levels conducive to unrestricted root growth (BD ≤1400kgm–3, PR ≤1.1MPa, saturation ≤70%). The blade-loosened treatment was substantially more productive (average grain yield increase 35%; P<0.05) and profitable (average gross margin increase 56%).

Tillage-induced differences in the growth and distribution of wheat-roots

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
KY Chan ◽  
JA Mead
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Direct Drilling

Root growth and distribution of wheat under different tillage practices was studied in a 4-year-old tillage experimental site at Cowra, N.S.W. Tillage affected root density as well as distribution. Up to 98 days after sowing, root length density was lower (P < 0.05) in the 0.05-0.10 m layer of the direct-drilled soil than the conventionally cultivated soil. Poor root growth found in direct-drilled soils, which was significantly related to the poor shoot growth, was not caused by soil physical conditions, viz. higher bulk density and soil strength. Rather, biological factors were involved because fumigation completely eliminated the poor shoot growth and significantly increased root length density of the direct drilled soils. Compared to a compaction treatment, roots grown under direct drilling, in addition to having lower density, also had impaired function. Under conventional cultivation, significantly lower root length density was found in the surface soil layer (0-0.05 m) and maximum root length density was found in the 0-05-0.10 m layer. Fumigation did not change the root distribution pattern. This tillage-induced difference in root distribution reflected less favourable surface soil conditions as a result of cultivation, e.g. seedbed slumping, compared to the soil under direct drilling.

scholarly journals Tree Root Growth and Development. I. Form, Spread, Depth and Periodicity

1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Gilman
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Root Growth And Development

Abstract Root form is governed by seedling genetics and soil characteristics including texture, compaction, depth to the water table, fertility, moisture content and other factors. Trees develop lateral roots growing parallel to the surface of the soil. These are generally located in the top 30 cm (12 in) of soil. Fine roots emerge from lateral roots and grow into the soil close to the surface. If soil conditions permit, some trees grow tap and other vertically oriented roots capable of penetrating several feet into the soil. Many trees, particularly those planted in urban landscapes, do not generate tap roots. Lateral roots spread to well beyond the edge of the branches. Their growth in governed by competition from other plants, available water, soil temperature, fertility, stage of shoot growth and other factors.

scholarly journals Effect of Irrigation Timing on Root Zone Soil Temperature, Root Growth and Grain Yield and Chemical Composition in Corn

Agronomy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Dong ◽  
Wenwei Xu ◽  
Yongjiang Zhang ◽  
Daniel Leskovar
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Root Zone

Effect of different direct drilling and conventional sowing techniques on soil strength, root growth and grain yield of wheat on sandplain soils in Western Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
CP Schmidt ◽  
RK Belford ◽  
D Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Sowing Depth ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Direct Drilling

Experiments were conducted to compare different direct drilling and conventional sowing techniques, and describe the effects of these techniques on soil strength, root growth and grain yield of wheat on sandplain soils in the northern wheat-belt of Western Australia. Soil strength was identified as a critical factor affecting root growth; increasing the depth of soil loosening beneath seeding depth with a modified direct drill reduced soil strength relative to that found in the traditional direct drill treatments, and increased rooting density beyond the 10 cm soil depth. As loosening depth increased, there were increases in both shoot growth and grain yields, and water use efficiency also improved. Maximizing the depth of soil disturbance by deep ripping after sowing resulted in the highest grain yields, but the time and cost penalties associated with this tillage operation are substantial and likely to deter its routine use. Modifying a direct drill to loosen soil beneath sowing depth therefore combined the advantages of conventional direct drilling (timeliness, moisture conservation and lower risk of erosion), with those obtained by sowing after cultivation (improved root growth and yield) without the yield penalties associated either with direct drilling or delayed sowing on these soils.

Effect of Sunflower Residues and Herbicide on Weed Suppression, Grain Yield and Economics of Transplanted Aman Rice

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
SS Tanu ◽  
P Biswas ◽  
S Ahmed ◽  
SC Samanta
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Hand Weeding ◽  
Environmentally Sound

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Field Laboratory, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali from July 2018 to November 2018 to evaluate the effect of sunflower residues and herbicides on the yield and economic performance of transplanted Aman rice. Weed control methods tested were T1 = weedy check (Unweeded control), T2 = Weed-free check by hand weeding twice, T3 = Pendimethalin, T4 = Pretilachlor, T5 = Butachlor, T6 = Pyrazosulfuron ethyl, T7 = Bensulfuron methyl + Acetachlor, T8 = Bispyriback sodium, T9 = 2,4-D amine, T10 = MCPA, T11 = Sunflower residues, T12 = Sunflower residues + 100% Pyrazosulfuron ethyl, T13 = Sunflower residues + 75% Pyrazosulfuron ethyl, T14 = Sunflower residues + 50% Pyrazosulfuron ethyl. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with fourteen treatments replicated thrice. Weedy check registered significantly the highest total weed density (354.67 m-2) and total weed dry matter (51.81 g-2) while weed-free treatment by hand weeding twice recorded significantly the lowest total weed density (6.67 m-2) and total weed dry matter 0.49 g-2) . Weedy check produced the highest weed index (34.24%) and hand weeding produced the lowest. Among different herbicides applied alone, butachlor had the lowest total weed density (15 m-2) and total weed dry matter (6.43 g-2) after hand weeding. Hand weeding recorded the highest grain yield (5.14 t ha-1) which was statistically similar to pendimethalin, pretilachlor, butachlor, bensulfuron methyl + acetachlor and sunflower residues + 100% pyrazosulfuron ethyl. Higher grain yield was attributed to a higher number of panicle m-2, number of filled grains panicle-1 and 1000-grain weight. The highest gross margin (22955 Tk. ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.32) were obtained from butachlor. Integration of sunflower residues with pyrazosulfuron ethyl produced effective weed suppression and satisfactory yield comparable to butachlor. Although the integration is less profitable than butachlor the farmers can use this technology as a feasible and environmentally sound approach in transplanted Aman rice field. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(1): 47-58

Analysis of the moisture content of maize kernels in over-ripe plants

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-430
Author(s):  
T. Árendás ◽  
L. C. Marton ◽  
P. Bónis ◽  
Z. Berzsenyi
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Equilibrium Moisture Content ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Maize Kernels

The effect of varying weather conditions on the moisture content of the maize grain yield was investigated in Martonvásár, Hungary from late August to late September, and from the 3rd third of September to the 1st third of Novemberbetween 1999 and 2002. In every year a close positive correlation (P=0.1%) could be observed between the moisture content in late September and the rate of drying down in October. Linear regression was used each year to determine the equilibrium moisture content, to which the moisture content of kernels returned if they contained less than this quantity of water in late September and harvesting was delayed. In the experimental years this value ranged from 15.24-19.01%.

Genetic Improvement of Root Growth and Its Relationship with Grain Yield of Wheat Cultivars in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 613
Author(s):  
Zhong-Wei TIAN ◽  
Yong-Hui FAN ◽  
Mei YIN ◽  
Fang-Rui WANG ◽  
Jian CAI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Wheat Cultivars ◽  
Lower Yangtze

Long-term liming improves soil fertility and soybean root growth, reflecting improvements in leaf gas exchange and grain yield

2021 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 126308
Author(s):  
João William Bossolani ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽  
José Roberto Portugal ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Moretti ◽  
Ariani Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Soybean Root
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