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Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Physical Properties Following Tillage of Norfolk Loamy Sand¹

ABSTRACT

Primary and secondary tillage practices are used to control weeds, incorporate soil amendments, and establish conditions favorable for root growth. Field data showing the degree to which various soil physical properties are altered by and following tillage are rare. This study was designed to evaluate spatial and temporal changes for nine soil physical properties following tillage and planting of Norfolk loamy sand (Typic Paleudult). The soil was moldboard plowed 25 cm deep 1 month prior to seeding. It was disked three times prior to seeding soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on 16 May 1977. The following physical properties were evaluated on 16 May (after seeding), 3 June, and 8 July 1977: bulk density (D_b), weight percent soil water (P_w), cone index (CI), total porosity (P), macroporosity (M), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat), and soil water characteristic at soil water pressures of –0.4, –1.0, and –10.0 kPa. All properties were measured within the 0- to 14-, 14- to 28-, and 28- to 41-cm depth increments for three positions: row (R), trafficked interrow (TI), and nontrafficked interrow (I). Temporal and spatial variations in soil physical properties after seeding were limited primarily to the 0- to 14-cm depth. For the 0- to 14-cm depth, of the nine soil properties examined, six underwent significant temporal variation; all nine had significant temporal (date) x position interactions. Within this depth, D_b and CI were significantly greater and P and M were significantly smaller for position TI compared with positions R and I. Small significant differences in K_sat were found even though difficulty was encountered in measuring it for this nearly structureless loamy sand at low D_b.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Soil Science, North Carolina State Univ. Paper no. 8724 of the Journal Ser. of the North Carolina Agric. Res. Serv., Raleigh, NC 27650.

² Professor of Soil Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27650.

Received for publication April 15, 1982. Accepted for publication October 6, 1982.

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