Publication Date
1989
Description
Grassland soils, on which the crop is managed for conservation as silage, receive large amounts of vehicle and machinery traffic : rolling and multiple slurry and fertilizers applications, plus multiple harvests, are all activities which are potentially damaging to soil and sward. A number of short-term studies in the UK (Frame, 1987 and Frost, 1988) and elsewhere (Luten and Roozeboom, 1976, and Rasmussen and M¢ller, 1981) have indicated that dry matter yield can be reduced as a consequence of stress imparted to soil by agricultural tyres. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of information on the influence of soil compaction on sward productivity and on practical methods of minimising wheel-induced damage. This paper describes some results from the first three years (1986-1988) of a field experiment programme designed to provide further information on soil compaction in grassland. In addition, opportunities for avoiding yield penalties are investigated by using traffic systems in which tyre/soil contact stresses are either eliminated or appreciably smaller than in conventional systems.
Citation
Douglas, J T. and Crawford, C E., "Soil Compaction and Novel Traffic Systems in Ryegrass Grown for Silage: Effects on Herbage Yield, Quality and Nitrogen Uptake" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session2/6
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Soil Compaction and Novel Traffic Systems in Ryegrass Grown for Silage: Effects on Herbage Yield, Quality and Nitrogen Uptake
Grassland soils, on which the crop is managed for conservation as silage, receive large amounts of vehicle and machinery traffic : rolling and multiple slurry and fertilizers applications, plus multiple harvests, are all activities which are potentially damaging to soil and sward. A number of short-term studies in the UK (Frame, 1987 and Frost, 1988) and elsewhere (Luten and Roozeboom, 1976, and Rasmussen and M¢ller, 1981) have indicated that dry matter yield can be reduced as a consequence of stress imparted to soil by agricultural tyres. Nevertheless, there is a general lack of information on the influence of soil compaction on sward productivity and on practical methods of minimising wheel-induced damage. This paper describes some results from the first three years (1986-1988) of a field experiment programme designed to provide further information on soil compaction in grassland. In addition, opportunities for avoiding yield penalties are investigated by using traffic systems in which tyre/soil contact stresses are either eliminated or appreciably smaller than in conventional systems.
