Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• BARBER, S.A.
• KOVAR, J.L.
• McMichael, B. L
• Persson, H

Titel

Effect of Tillage Practice on Maize (Zea Mays L.) Root Distribution

Ist Teil von

• Developments in Agricultural and Managed-Forest Ecology, 1991, Vol.24, p.402-409

Ort / Verlag

The Netherlands: Elsevier Science & Technology

Erscheinungsjahr

1991

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Soil water and temperature affect maize (Zea mays L.) root growth rate. Tillage practice may influence the levels of these soil parameters occurring during growth. A field experiment was conducted using ridge and conventional (moldboard plow and disk) tillage. Soil temperature was measured at 2.5, 10, and 30 cm depth. Soil water was measured at 0 to 5, 5 to 15, and 15 to 30 cm depths. Roots were sampled in six locations from row to mid-row at 0 to 5, 5 to 15 and 15 to 20 cm depths. Tillage practice did not influence soil temperature and temperatures were high enough that influence of temperature on root growth rate was always 80% of maximum rate. Soil water levels varied with soil depth. In the 0 to 5 cm layer, values fluctuated from greater than field capacity (27%) to less than wilting point (14%). The 5 to 15 cm layer was less variable with water contents fluctuating between 20% and 30%. Values for 15 to 30 cm were similar to those for 5 to 15 cm depth. Root density in the 0 to 5 cm depth was less than in the 5 to 15 cm layer. With ridge tillage the greatest root density was at mid row while for conventional tillage the greatest root density was in the row. These root density differences reflected differences in soil water levels. Placing fertilizer in the zone of highest root density should result in the highest recovery of the applied fertilizer.