EFFECT OF MACHINERY TRAFFIC ON SOME PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY LOAM SOIL

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to assess the effects of machinery traffic on some physical properties of a clay loam soil with four treatments i.e. Conventional tillage (CT), Minimum tillage (MT), Zero tillage (ZT) and Controlled traffic farming systems (CTF). The soil samples were taken from 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depths before and at the end of the experiment. Results showed that the dry bulk density and penetration resistance were significantly decreased (P< 0.05) by conventional tillage system, followed by controlled traffic farming system at the depth of 0-15 cm. Contrarily, soil porosity and infiltration rate significantly increased (P< 0.05) by conventional tillage system, followed by controlled traffic farming system at 0-15 cm depth. However, at lower depth (15-45 cm), the dry bulk density and penetration resistance were slightly decreased or remained consistent as well as soil porosity and infiltration rate were slightly increased or remained unchanged in almost  all the treatments. It is concluded from the study that conventional and traffic farming systems are efficient tillage practices to decrease dry bulk density, reduce penetration resistance, increase soil porosity and infiltration rate as compared to minimum and zero tillage practices.