Abstract
Abstract. The management of agricultural soils during crop establishment can affect
root development due to changes in the soil structure. This paper assesses the
influence of tillage depth (250 mm, 100 mm, and zero tillage) and traffic management
(conventional tyre pressure, low tyre pressure, and no traffic) on wheat
root system architecture during winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tillering and flowering
growth stages (GS) at a long-term tillage trial site. The study revealed
that zero-tillage systems increased crop yield through significantly greater
root biomass (P<0.001), root length density, and deeper seminal
rooting analysed using X-ray computed tomography (CT) (P<0.001)
compared with trafficked treatments. In general, conventional-pressure
traffic had a significant negative influence on the crop yield (P<0.01), root development (0.001), bulk density (P<0.05), and total
soil porosity (P<0.05) of deep- and shallow-tillage conventional-pressure systems compared with no-traffic zero- and deep-tillage systems. Visual
improvements in soil structure under zero-tillage conditions may have improved crop
rooting in zero-tillage treatments through vertical pore fissures
(biopores), enhancing water uptake during the crop flowering period. This
study highlights the increasing implications of soil structural damage on
root system architecture created by machinery traffic in crop
production. Although the tillage method was less important, the constricted root
systems were more pronounced in conventional-pressure shallow-tillage and
deep-tillage systems, emphasizing the importance of using controlled-traffic
farming methods to improve soil management and reduce the trafficked areas
of agricultural fields.
Funder
Science Foundation Ireland
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