The effect of roller pressure and share of plant matter in mulching soil cultivation on its density and water content. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kogut, Zbigniew; Sergiel, Leszek
• Is Part Of: Journal of terramechanics. Volume 97(2021)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Land rolling -- Seedbed compaction -- Mixing soil with plant matter -- Density and water content of soil with matter; Trafficability -- Periodicals; Praticabilité (Routes) -- Périodiques; Trafficability; Periodicals; 629.222
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jterra.2021.08.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4898

Abstract

Highlights: Higher dose of plant matter with soil reduces its bulk density. Soil-straw mixture reduces volumetric water content, soil-charlock - increases. Mixing soil with straw reduces full water capacity while with charlock it increases. Roller pressure increases the density and humidity of soil mixed with plant matter. Using innovative research methodology, original and reliable results were obtained. Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the roller load (with cultivating tools) and doses of plant matter (straw and charlock) mixed with soil on the air and humidity conditions of such soil. The innovation of the research consisted in abandoning the use of Kopecky's cylinders: the bulk density of mulched soil was determined by measuring its mass and volume, which it obtained in vases before and after the roller work. Capillary infiltration was also carried out for soil in vases. Variable research factors characterizing the roller working conditions in the mulching tillage, were: source/type of plant material cut into 10 cm chopped straw, its share in soil, three ranges of soil water content and vertical unit load on the roller. Increasing the straw dose to 30 Mg . ha −1 reduces the bulk density from 1.17 to 0.76 g . cm −3, while increasing the dose of charlock to 60 Mg . ha −1 under these conditions, it reduces the density to 1.03 g . cm −3 . At the same time, humidity conditions change: volumetric water content decreases in case of straw from 13.9% to 8.5% and increases in case of charlock to 17.4%. Changes occur also in case of full water capacity.