Influence of subsoil compaction on soil physical properties and on growing conditions of barley.

Abstract

In 1997, 1998 and 1999 field experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of soil compaction on the soil properties and on the composition of phytocoenosis in barley fields. The field trials were completed on sandy clay Haplic Stagnosol (by WRB 2006) which is quite characteristic for Estonia, and sensitive to compaction. The results of the investigations at Eerika (near Tartu, Estonia) demonstrated a strongly negative effect of subsoil compaction on soil characteristics and were associated with the number of compaction events carried out. Furthermore, the amount of aggregates of the 0.25-7 mm decreased by 14.4%. The penetration resistance in subsoil was 1.7-2.6 times higher compared with the non-compacted area. The results indicated that adaptability of weeds on the soil degraded by excessive compaction was remarkably strong, thus increasing their competitiveness in association with barley, especially under conditions unfavourable to the plants.