Traffic soil compaction of an oxisol related to soybean development and yield

Abstract

Excessive traffic on the soil may affect soybean development. This research was carried out to evaluate soybean root development and grain yield under compacted soil, in an Oxisol. The following traffic treatments were used: T0 = no traffic; T1* = 1 passage of a 4 t tractor; and, T1, T2, T4 and T6, respectively for 1, 2, 4 and 6 passages of an 11 t tractor on the same location, each besides the other. After compaction, soybean [Glycine max cv. MG/BR 46 (Conquista)] was cultivated. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, with six compaction levels and four replicates (plots of 9.0 m²). Undisturbed soil samples were collected in the layers 0.03-0.06, 0.08-0.11, 0.15-0.18 and 0.22-0.25 m, for physical analyses. Root analyses were performed at layers of 0.0-0.10, 0.10-0.15 and 0.20-0.25 m. Soil compaction decreased deep root development and did not affect root amount, but its distribution. Yield decreased at the penetration resistance of 2.33 MPa or higher, and soil bulk density of 1.51 Mg m-3 or higher.