Cover crop residue effects on machine-induced soil compaction

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dc.contributor.authorEss, Daniel R.en
dc.contributor.committeechairVaughan, David H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberEvanylo, Gregory K.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHetzel, Glen H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMarsh, Lori S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPerumpral, John V.en
dc.contributor.departmentAgricultural Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:13:51Zen
dc.date.adate2008-06-06en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:13:51Zen
dc.date.issued1994-07-05en
dc.date.rdate2008-06-06en
dc.date.sdate2008-06-06en
dc.description.abstractCrop production systems which utilize the biomass produced by rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> ) to suppress weed growth and conserve soil moisture have been developed at Virginia Tech. The success of alternative, reduced-input crop production systems has encouraged research into the potential for breaking the traffic-tillage cycle associated with conventional tillage crop production systems. The fragile residues encountered in agricultural crop production, whether incorporated into the soil or distributed on the soil surface, provide minimal protection against compaction by wheeled vehicles. The potential of an intact cover crop to reduce machine-induced effects on soil properties that affect primary crop growth was the subject of this study. A randomized complete block experiment was conducted at the Whitethorne Farm in Montgomery County, Virginia. One set of plots was arranged on a terrace adjacent to the New River in a fine, mixed, mesic, Aquic Argiudolls. Another set of plots was arranged on an upland site, a river terrace tread, in a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludults. Three rye cover crop treatments were examined. In one, a live cover crop was completely undisturbed prior to tracking by a wheel-type tractor. In another, the cover crop was chemically desiccated, and in the third treatment, all above-ground biomass was removed from plots prior to machine traffic. The treatments permitted investigation of the effects of crop condition on machine-induced soil compaction and the contribution of root reinforcement to the alteration of soil response to machine traffic. A fall-tilled fallow treatment served as an experimental control. Three levels of traffic were investigated: one pass, three passes, and five passes. Undisturbed soil core samples were analyzed to determine machine-induced effects on dry bulk density, pore size distribution, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The treatments affected soil response to machine traffic. The cover crop treatments altered the soil-plant microenvironment, affecting soil parameters that influence compactibility. Soil compaction was attenuated by the reinforcing effect of a network of undisturbed roots within the soil. There was no convincing evidence that above-ground biomass contributed directly to the reduction of machine-induced compaction effects. Soil response to machine traffic was limited to the uppermost 15 cm of the soil profile.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extentxi, 198 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-06062008-164819en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06062008-164819/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/38300en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V856_1994.E87.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 31183737en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1994.E87en
dc.subject.lcshCover cropsen
dc.subject.lcshCrop residuesen
dc.subject.lcshSoil stabilizationen
dc.titleCover crop residue effects on machine-induced soil compactionen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineAgricultural Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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