HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This issue's cover: Paired minirhizotron images showing roots of a canola cover crop (left) in compacted plowpan soil in April/May 2002 and soybean roots (right) observed at the same locations in the soil in July/August 2002. The soybean roots can be seen to follow channels made by the preceding canola roots. Cover crop roots penetrate compacted plowpans in winter, when the soil is wet and has low strength. As these roots decay, they provide low resistance paths for roots of subsequent crops growing in summer when the soil is drier and has much greater resistance to penetration. High penetration resistance in the plowpan during dry summer weather can restrict the access of crop roots to water stored in deeper soil layers. See p. 1403-1409. "Crop Cover Root Channels May Alleviate Soil Compaction Effects on Soybean Crop" by S.M. Williams and R.R. Weil.