Compaction of a Clay Loam Soil in Pannonian Region of Croatia under Different Tillage Systems

Abstract

Many farmers periodically use deep tillage operations to alleviate compaction in the soil profile caused by natural factors or machinery traffic. In 2012 and 2013, a study was initiated in the Pannonian region of Croatia to study the effects of No-Tillage (NT), Conventional Tillage (CT), and Deep Tillage (DT) on soil compaction, measured by Bulk Density (BD), Soil Water Content (SWC), Penetration Resistance (PR) and Total Soil Porosity (TSP). The experiment was conducted on Pseudogley (Stagnosol). The results showed that DT was superior to CT and NT treatments. DT caused least soil physical degradation, with BD being in the following order: DT< NT< CT. Soil water depletion under NT treatment was confined more to the upper soil layers than under DT and CT. Under the CT treatment, the PR values indicate the occurrence of impermeable layers at depths greater than 25 cm in wet conditions (2012) and at depths greater than 10 cm in dry conditions (2013). NT did not differ significantly from tilled treatments in soil compaction measured by BD, providing an interesting alternative for soil management. Perennial ploughing should be avoided as the only long term soil management strategy, while additional strategies which include controlled traffic and soil loosening every 1-2 years should be implemented on Pseudogley in Pannonian Croatia. Keywords: Bulk density, Penetration resistance, Pseudogley, Soil water content, Total soil porosity.