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Philip J. Bauer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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comparison of five tillage systems in Coastal Plain Soils for cotton production
Open Journal of Soil Science, 2017Co-Authors: Ahmad Khalilian, Philip J. Bauer, Michael A Jones, Michael W. MarshallAbstract:Soil compaction management in the southeastern USA typically relies heavily on the practice of annual deep tillage. Strip tillage systems have shown considerable promise for reducing energy and labor requirements, equipment costs, soil erosion, and cotton plant damage from blowing sand. Replicated field trials were conducted for three years in South Carolina, to compare the performance of three different strip tillage systems to conventional tillage and no-till methods. A second objective was to investigate whether the frequency of deep tillage can be reduced by planting cotton directly using controlled wheel traffic into the previous year’s subsoiler furrow. Tillage treatments included: conventional tillage (disk-subsoil-bed), straight shank strip-till, bent-leg shank strip-till (Paratill), bent-leg shank strip till (Terra Max), and no-till. Deep tillage was performed in all plots the first year. In years two and three, the plots were split and half received annual deep tillage and the other half were not deep tilled either year. Tillage methods were compared side by side with and without irrigation. Deep tillage reduced soil compaction and increased taproot length and cotton yields than the no-till system. There was no difference in cotton lint yield between the strip-till systems and conventional tillage in either dry land or irrigated plots. Deep tillage increased cotton lint yields compared to no-till. There was no difference in lint yield between plots which were deep-tilled in all three years with those which had tillage operation only in first year of the test. Dry matter partitioning at first bloom was reduced in plant height, total dry weight, and leaf area in strip-till and no-till production systems compared to the conventional tillage system. The results suggest that all three strip tillage systems are equally effective for cotton production and that annual deep tillage is not necessary if controlled traffic is employed.
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rebuilding organic carbon contents in Coastal Plain Soils using conservation tillage systems
Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2009Co-Authors: J M Novak, Philip J. Bauer, James R Frederick, D W WattsAbstract:Long-term disk tillage (DT) for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain has resulted in soil organic C (SOC) content reductions. Conservation tillage (CT) management in some studies can rebuild SOC levels. A field study, with two adjacent 3.5-ha fields, both containing soil series formed in upland and depressional areas, was conducted using a 6-yr rotation of corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton to determine the CT and DT effects on SOC contents and residue characteristics returned to the soil. Annual soil samples were collected from 50 locations per field at 0- to 3- and 3- to 15-cm. After 6 yr under CT, residue accumulation promoted a significant SOC increase in the 0- to 3-cm depth in the upland soil series (about 0.7 Mg SOC ha -1 ). The lack of residue mixing in the 3- to 15-cm depth in upland Soils under CT, however, resulted in a significant SOC content decline at this depth (1.25-2.51 Mg SOC ha -1 ). There was no significant SOC content change in Soils under CT formed in depressional areas or in all Soils under DT. During 6 yr, 14.8 Mg ha -1 of organic C from both corn and cotton residues was returned to Soils under CT, but <4% was incorporated into the SOC pool. Levels of SOC in sandy upland Soils can be increased at the surface after 6 yr of CT under a corn and cotton rotation, with the increase coming at the expense of an SOC decline at a deeper topsoil depth.
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deep tillage management for high strength southeastern usa Coastal Plain Soils
Soil & Tillage Research, 2006Co-Authors: W J Busscher, Philip J. Bauer, James R FrederickAbstract:Southeastern USA production is limited in Acrisols (Paleudults and Kandiudults) because they have high strengths and low water holding capacities. Production systems with crop rotations or deep tillage before planting were compared with less intensive management. Production systems included double-crop wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) that were drilled in 0.19 m-row widths and grown in 15 m wide, 150 m long plots with Soils of varying hardpan depths. Treatments included surface tillage (disked or none), deep tillage (paratilled or none), deep tillage with winter fallow and maize (Zea mays L.) in rotation, and disked/deep tillage with an in-row subsoiler where soybean was planted in conventional 0.76 mwide rows. Cone indices were measured near the ends of each plot (120 m apart) to assess soil strength differences among soil types and among treatments. Cone indices were 1.50 MPa higher for non-deep tilled treatments than for deep tilled treatments and 0.44 MPa higher in wheel-track mid rows than in non-wheel-track mid rows. Cone indices were also 0.28 MPa higher for Soils with shallower Bt horizons. Cone indices were not significantly different for subsoiled treatments and paratilled treatments. Rainfall was erratic throughout the5-year experiment with dry periodslasting morethan 2weeks at a time and with annual totals ranging from 520 to 1110 mm. Wheat yields were 0.67 Mg ha � 1 greater for deep-tilled Soils (subsoiled and paratilled) than for non-deep-tilled Soils. Soybean yields were 0.36 Mg ha � 1 greater for paratilled than for subsoiled or non-deep-tilled treatments partly as a result of the more complete disruption of the paratill and partly because paratilled treatments were managed with narrow rows. Yields did not vary significantly among the soil types despite the fact that they had different cone indices. Tillage was a more dominant factor than soil type. For wheat, lower cone indices from tillage led to higher yields. For soybean, management of uniform loosening from deep tillage and narrow rows led to higher yields. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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soil strength cotton root growth and lint yield in a southeastern usa Coastal loamy sand
Soil & Tillage Research, 2003Co-Authors: Warren J. Busscher, Philip J. BauerAbstract:Inverse linear relationships between soil strength and yield in Coastal Plain Soils that have subsurface genetic hard layers have previously been developed for corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under management systems that include annual or biannual non-inversion deep tillage. In a field study in the southeastern Coastal Plains of the USA, we tested this relationship for cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in wide (0.96 m) rows, hypothesizing that root growth and lint yield of cotton would increase with a decrease in soil strength associated with annual deep tillage or cover crop. Root growth and yield were evaluated for treatment combinations of surface tillage or none, deep tillage or none, and rye ( Secale cereale L.) cover crop or none. Root growth increased (r 2 = 0.66–0.68) as mean or maximum soil strength decreased. Cotton lint yield was not significantly affected by the treatments. Lack of yield response to tillage treatment may have been the result of management practices that employed a small (3 m wide) disk in surface-tilled plots and maintained traffic lanes, both of which help prevent re-compaction. These results indicate that less than annual frequency of subsoiling might be a viable production practice for cotton grown in traditionally wide (0.96 m) rows on a Coastal Plain soil (fine loamy Acrisol–Typic Kandiudult). Thus, annual subsoiling, a practice commonly recommended and used, need not be a blanket recommendation for cotton grown on Coastal Plain Soils.
Warren J. Busscher - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Field application of PAM as an amendment in deep-tilled US southeastern Coastal Plain Soils
Soil and Tillage Research, 2009Co-Authors: Warren J. Busscher, D.l. Bjorneberg, Robert E. SojkaAbstract:In sandy Soils of the southeastern USA Coastal Plains, crop production is limited by low water holding capacity and compacted soil layers that reduce root growth and productivity. Polyacrylamide (PAM) was added to sandy Coastal Plain Soils to improve physical properties and yield. Soils were amended with linear and cross-linked PAMs. Treatments and controls included the following: (1) spraying a 600 mg kg � 1 solution of linear PAM behind a subsoil shank at a rate of 3.93 kg ha � 1 , (2) spraying a 100 mg kg � 1 solution at 0.66 kg ha � 1 , (3) spraying only water at 13.1 m 3 ha � 1 , (4) dropping a dry PAM powder formulation (3005 KB) behind a subsoil shank at 300 kg ha � 1 , (5) dropping another dry PAM powder formulation (3005 K2) at 230 kg ha � 1 , (6) dropping a dry PAM powder formulation 3005 K2 at a lower rate of 55 kg ha � 1 , (7) applying nothing behind a subsoil shank, and (8) not subsoiling. In each of the 3 years of the experiment, new sets of treatments were set up while the old ones were maintained to look at longevity of the PAM effect. Though treatment effects were dominated by the tillage, the crosslinked PAMs were the only treatments more effective than tillage alone. The cross-linked PAMs may have been more effective because we could add more in dry form than in the spray form. The effect diminished with time similar to or faster than the results seen in tillage only. Though some PAM applications may have reduced cone indices, yields were not affected.
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soil strength cotton root growth and lint yield in a southeastern usa Coastal loamy sand
Soil & Tillage Research, 2003Co-Authors: Warren J. Busscher, Philip J. BauerAbstract:Inverse linear relationships between soil strength and yield in Coastal Plain Soils that have subsurface genetic hard layers have previously been developed for corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under management systems that include annual or biannual non-inversion deep tillage. In a field study in the southeastern Coastal Plains of the USA, we tested this relationship for cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in wide (0.96 m) rows, hypothesizing that root growth and lint yield of cotton would increase with a decrease in soil strength associated with annual deep tillage or cover crop. Root growth and yield were evaluated for treatment combinations of surface tillage or none, deep tillage or none, and rye ( Secale cereale L.) cover crop or none. Root growth increased (r 2 = 0.66–0.68) as mean or maximum soil strength decreased. Cotton lint yield was not significantly affected by the treatments. Lack of yield response to tillage treatment may have been the result of management practices that employed a small (3 m wide) disk in surface-tilled plots and maintained traffic lanes, both of which help prevent re-compaction. These results indicate that less than annual frequency of subsoiling might be a viable production practice for cotton grown in traditionally wide (0.96 m) rows on a Coastal Plain soil (fine loamy Acrisol–Typic Kandiudult). Thus, annual subsoiling, a practice commonly recommended and used, need not be a blanket recommendation for cotton grown on Coastal Plain Soils.
James R Frederick - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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rebuilding organic carbon contents in Coastal Plain Soils using conservation tillage systems
Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2009Co-Authors: J M Novak, Philip J. Bauer, James R Frederick, D W WattsAbstract:Long-term disk tillage (DT) for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain has resulted in soil organic C (SOC) content reductions. Conservation tillage (CT) management in some studies can rebuild SOC levels. A field study, with two adjacent 3.5-ha fields, both containing soil series formed in upland and depressional areas, was conducted using a 6-yr rotation of corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton to determine the CT and DT effects on SOC contents and residue characteristics returned to the soil. Annual soil samples were collected from 50 locations per field at 0- to 3- and 3- to 15-cm. After 6 yr under CT, residue accumulation promoted a significant SOC increase in the 0- to 3-cm depth in the upland soil series (about 0.7 Mg SOC ha -1 ). The lack of residue mixing in the 3- to 15-cm depth in upland Soils under CT, however, resulted in a significant SOC content decline at this depth (1.25-2.51 Mg SOC ha -1 ). There was no significant SOC content change in Soils under CT formed in depressional areas or in all Soils under DT. During 6 yr, 14.8 Mg ha -1 of organic C from both corn and cotton residues was returned to Soils under CT, but <4% was incorporated into the SOC pool. Levels of SOC in sandy upland Soils can be increased at the surface after 6 yr of CT under a corn and cotton rotation, with the increase coming at the expense of an SOC decline at a deeper topsoil depth.
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deep tillage management for high strength southeastern usa Coastal Plain Soils
Soil & Tillage Research, 2006Co-Authors: W J Busscher, Philip J. Bauer, James R FrederickAbstract:Southeastern USA production is limited in Acrisols (Paleudults and Kandiudults) because they have high strengths and low water holding capacities. Production systems with crop rotations or deep tillage before planting were compared with less intensive management. Production systems included double-crop wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) that were drilled in 0.19 m-row widths and grown in 15 m wide, 150 m long plots with Soils of varying hardpan depths. Treatments included surface tillage (disked or none), deep tillage (paratilled or none), deep tillage with winter fallow and maize (Zea mays L.) in rotation, and disked/deep tillage with an in-row subsoiler where soybean was planted in conventional 0.76 mwide rows. Cone indices were measured near the ends of each plot (120 m apart) to assess soil strength differences among soil types and among treatments. Cone indices were 1.50 MPa higher for non-deep tilled treatments than for deep tilled treatments and 0.44 MPa higher in wheel-track mid rows than in non-wheel-track mid rows. Cone indices were also 0.28 MPa higher for Soils with shallower Bt horizons. Cone indices were not significantly different for subsoiled treatments and paratilled treatments. Rainfall was erratic throughout the5-year experiment with dry periodslasting morethan 2weeks at a time and with annual totals ranging from 520 to 1110 mm. Wheat yields were 0.67 Mg ha � 1 greater for deep-tilled Soils (subsoiled and paratilled) than for non-deep-tilled Soils. Soybean yields were 0.36 Mg ha � 1 greater for paratilled than for subsoiled or non-deep-tilled treatments partly as a result of the more complete disruption of the paratill and partly because paratilled treatments were managed with narrow rows. Yields did not vary significantly among the soil types despite the fact that they had different cone indices. Tillage was a more dominant factor than soil type. For wheat, lower cone indices from tillage led to higher yields. For soybean, management of uniform loosening from deep tillage and narrow rows led to higher yields. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
W J Busscher - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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amendments to increase aggregation in united states southeastern Coastal Plain Soils
Soil Science, 2007Co-Authors: W J Busscher, J M Novak, Thecan Caesartonthat, R E SojkaAbstract:Many U.S. southeastern Coastal Plain Soils have a cemented subsurface hard layer that restricts root growth and decreases productivity. Soil properties are improved by tillage but might also be improved by amending the soil. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue and polyacrylamide (PAM) were used to amend a Norfolk soil mix of 90% E horizon (the hard layer) and 10% Ap horizon (to assure microbial presence). Our hypothesis was that incorporation of wheat residue and/or PAM would improve physical properties, making the soil more amenable to root growth. Treatments contained 450 g of soil mix, 6.44 g kg ground wheat stubble, and 0, 30, or 120 mg kg -1 of PAM (an anionic, linear formulation of size 12 MDa and 35% charge density). Duplicate sets of replicated treatments were incubated at 10% gravimetric water content for 30 and 60 days. Treatments were leached with 1.3 pore volumes of water. After leaching and equilibration to stable water contents, soil strengths were measured with a 3-mm-diameter flat-tipped bench-top penetrometer. At 30 days, the treatments were not significantly different; but at 60 days, treatments differed. Polyacrylamide decreased bulk density when added at the higher rate of 120 mg kg -1 to the soil. The higher PAM rate also decreased the amount of water that was added to maintain treatments at 10% water content. Wheat residue amendments decreased penetration resistances and increased aggregation. Wheat residue and PAM amendments improved soil physical properties, especially when treatments were allowed to incubate for 60 days.
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comparison of soil amendments to decrease high strength in se usa Coastal Plain Soils using fuzzy decision making analyses
International Agrophysics, 2007Co-Authors: W J Busscher, J M Novak, E Krueger, D KurtenerAbstract:Cemented subsurface layers restrict root growth in many southeastern USA Coastal Plain Soils. Though cementa- tion is usually reduced by tillage, soil amendments can offer a more permanent solution if they develop aggregation. To increase aggre- gation, we amended 450 g of a Norfolk soil blend of 90% E horizon (the hard layer) and 10% Ap horizon with 0 or 6.44 g kg -1 ground wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue and 0, 30, or 120 mg kg -1 polyacrylamide (PAM, 12 x 10 6 Da anionic, linear, and 35% charge density). During a 60-d incubation, parameters measured included water added to maintain 10% soil moisture, soil strength, bulk density, and aggregation. Data were analyzed using a cost-benefit approach with normalized fuzzy logic indicators. Analyses inclu- ded building normalized decision matrices, calculating weighting vectors, ranking alternatives, and defining the best alternatives. When only physical parameters were analyzed using fuzzy logic indicators, addition of wheat residue with 30 mg kg -1 PAM proved to be the best alternative whereas wheat residue with 120 mg kg -1 PAM had been selected as the best alternative with analysis of va- riance because it did not simultaneously analyze all variables. When both physical and economic parameters were included, the best alternative was the treatment with wheat residue and 120 mg kg -1 PAM. When using fuzzy logic, judgment of the user was
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deep tillage management for high strength southeastern usa Coastal Plain Soils
Soil & Tillage Research, 2006Co-Authors: W J Busscher, Philip J. Bauer, James R FrederickAbstract:Southeastern USA production is limited in Acrisols (Paleudults and Kandiudults) because they have high strengths and low water holding capacities. Production systems with crop rotations or deep tillage before planting were compared with less intensive management. Production systems included double-crop wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) that were drilled in 0.19 m-row widths and grown in 15 m wide, 150 m long plots with Soils of varying hardpan depths. Treatments included surface tillage (disked or none), deep tillage (paratilled or none), deep tillage with winter fallow and maize (Zea mays L.) in rotation, and disked/deep tillage with an in-row subsoiler where soybean was planted in conventional 0.76 mwide rows. Cone indices were measured near the ends of each plot (120 m apart) to assess soil strength differences among soil types and among treatments. Cone indices were 1.50 MPa higher for non-deep tilled treatments than for deep tilled treatments and 0.44 MPa higher in wheel-track mid rows than in non-wheel-track mid rows. Cone indices were also 0.28 MPa higher for Soils with shallower Bt horizons. Cone indices were not significantly different for subsoiled treatments and paratilled treatments. Rainfall was erratic throughout the5-year experiment with dry periodslasting morethan 2weeks at a time and with annual totals ranging from 520 to 1110 mm. Wheat yields were 0.67 Mg ha � 1 greater for deep-tilled Soils (subsoiled and paratilled) than for non-deep-tilled Soils. Soybean yields were 0.36 Mg ha � 1 greater for paratilled than for subsoiled or non-deep-tilled treatments partly as a result of the more complete disruption of the paratill and partly because paratilled treatments were managed with narrow rows. Yields did not vary significantly among the soil types despite the fact that they had different cone indices. Tillage was a more dominant factor than soil type. For wheat, lower cone indices from tillage led to higher yields. For soybean, management of uniform loosening from deep tillage and narrow rows led to higher yields. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ahmad Khalilian - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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comparison of five tillage systems in Coastal Plain Soils for cotton production
Open Journal of Soil Science, 2017Co-Authors: Ahmad Khalilian, Philip J. Bauer, Michael A Jones, Michael W. MarshallAbstract:Soil compaction management in the southeastern USA typically relies heavily on the practice of annual deep tillage. Strip tillage systems have shown considerable promise for reducing energy and labor requirements, equipment costs, soil erosion, and cotton plant damage from blowing sand. Replicated field trials were conducted for three years in South Carolina, to compare the performance of three different strip tillage systems to conventional tillage and no-till methods. A second objective was to investigate whether the frequency of deep tillage can be reduced by planting cotton directly using controlled wheel traffic into the previous year’s subsoiler furrow. Tillage treatments included: conventional tillage (disk-subsoil-bed), straight shank strip-till, bent-leg shank strip-till (Paratill), bent-leg shank strip till (Terra Max), and no-till. Deep tillage was performed in all plots the first year. In years two and three, the plots were split and half received annual deep tillage and the other half were not deep tilled either year. Tillage methods were compared side by side with and without irrigation. Deep tillage reduced soil compaction and increased taproot length and cotton yields than the no-till system. There was no difference in cotton lint yield between the strip-till systems and conventional tillage in either dry land or irrigated plots. Deep tillage increased cotton lint yields compared to no-till. There was no difference in lint yield between plots which were deep-tilled in all three years with those which had tillage operation only in first year of the test. Dry matter partitioning at first bloom was reduced in plant height, total dry weight, and leaf area in strip-till and no-till production systems compared to the conventional tillage system. The results suggest that all three strip tillage systems are equally effective for cotton production and that annual deep tillage is not necessary if controlled traffic is employed.
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Evaluation of the Clemson instrumented subsoiler shank in Coastal Plain Soils
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2014Co-Authors: Ahmad Khalilian, Michael W. Marshall, Serap Gorucu, Yousef Abbaspour-gilandeh, Kendall R. KirkAbstract:The performance of the Clemson instrumented subsoiler shank was evaluated.The instrumented shank successfully determined the depth of soil hardpan layers.There were strong correlations between the shank and soil penetrometer readings.The effect of soil moisture on shank-penetrometer correlation was not significant.The depth and thickness of the hardpan layers can be determined on-the-go. Most sandy Soils in Coastal Plains of the southeastern USA have a compacted zone or hardpan which limits root penetration below the plowing depth, reducing yields, and predisposing plants to drought stress. The hardpan layer exhibits a great amount of variability in depth and thickness in this region. Real-time, sensor-based, site-specific tillage could achieve significant savings in energy requirements for subsoiling and increase crop yields. Replicated tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the Clemson instrumented subsoiler shank under actual field conditions. The instrumented subsoiler shank was calibrated against cone penetrometer readings on three Coastal Plain soil types. A strong positive correlation between soil strength values measured with the penetrometer and the instrumented subsoiler shank was observed (R2=0.89-0.97). On average, the shank index values (measured horizontally) were about 50% less than the corresponding cone index values (measured vertically). The effect of soil moisture content on shank-penetrometer correlation was not significant (α=0.05). It is possible to determine the depth and thickness of the hardpan layers with the instrumented subsoiler shank either for real time control of subsoiling location and depth or for generating site-specific tillage maps.
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Variable-depth Tillage based on Geo-referenced Soil Compaction Data in Coastal Plain Soils
2011Co-Authors: Serap Gorucu Keskin, Ahmad Khalilian, Young J. Han, R B DoddAbstract:This study was carried out to investigate the use of soil cone penetrometer and soil electrical conductivity (EC) measurement systems, in finding the geo-referenced optimum tillage depth for site-specific detection and management of soil compaction in Coastal Plain Soils. The effectiveness of variable-depth tillage (VDT) on crop performance, energy consumption, and fuel savings was investigated. VDT, no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems were compared and the relationships between tillage depth, soil EC, crop responses, and yield were studied in cotton production. The study was conducted in two different fields named Field A and Field B. The results showed that required tillage depths are shallower than conventional tillage depths. A strong positive correlation between EC readings and cotton yield was observed while predicted tillage depths were negatively correlated to soil EC readings. By applying VDT, energy savings of 56.4% and fuel savings of 33.8% were achieved compared to CT.
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Site-Specific Irrigation Management in Coastal Plain Soils
2008Co-Authors: Ahmad Khalilian, Young J. Han, Hamid J. FarahaniAbstract:The main goal of this study was to determine the optimum irrigation scheduling method for cotton production in the southeastern Coastal Plain Soils utilizing site-specific irrigation management. A variable-rate linear-move sprinkler irrigation system was developed for sitespecific application of water to match crop needs. This system could monitor and apply water based on the actual soil moisture content, pan evaporation data, or the U.S. Climate Reference Network (CRN) data. Information from the moisture sensors, evaporation pan and CRN is acquired using wireless technology. Custom software collects the field information (length, width, number of irrigation zones, GPS coordinates) and generates a site-specific irrigation depth map which is used to control the irrigation system. During 2006-07 growing seasons, a field was divided into five management zones using soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soil texture data. Five irrigation scheduling treatments were applied to plots of each zone. The irrigation scheduling treatments were based on 1) soil moisture sensors (Time Domain Transmissometry, TDT); 2) pan evaporation data and a crop coefficient; 3) tensiometers; 4) reference evapotranspiration model (Jensen-Haise); and 5) no irrigation. The effects of various irrigation scheduling methods on water use, crop response, and yield were determined. The soil moisturebased treatments (tensiometer and TDT sensors) significantly increased seed cotton yields compare to the ET-based treatments (pan & reference evapotranspiration data). The irrigation depth applied was a significant factor affecting the seed cotton yield for the 2006-07 growing conditions. It was found that soil moisture sensors and tensiometers can be used successfully for site-specific irrigation scheduling in production fields. The pan and ET-based methods underestimated irrigation requirements due to inadequate crop coefficient that was not locally calibrated.
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Energy Savings with Variable-Depth Tillage "A Precision Farming Practice"
2007Co-Authors: Reza Alimardani, Ahmad Khalilian, Yousef Abbaspour-gilandeh, Seyed Hossein SadatiAbstract:4 Abstract: Soil compaction management in the southeastern Coastal Plain Soils relies heavily on the use of costly annual deep tillage operations. Variable-depth or site-specific tillage which modifies the physical properties of soil only where the tillage is needed for crop growth, has potential to reduce costs, labor, fuel and energy requirements. Although technology for site-specific tillage is available, there is very limited information on the fuel and energy requirements of site-specific tillage in southeastern Coastal Plain Soils. Tests were carried out on three different Coastal Plain Soils to compare energy requirement of site-specific tillage with uniform- depth tillage operations. Also, the effects of tractor speed, soil texture, moisture contents and electrical conductivity on energy requirement and fuel consumption were determined. The energy saving of 50% and fuel saving of 30% were achieved by site-specific tillage as compared to uniform-depth tillage in a loamy sand soil type. Although draft force increased with an increase in travel speed in all soil types but the tillage depth had bigger effect on the draft and drawbar power than the tractor speed. The effect of soil moisture content on draft force and fuel consumption was not significant in loamy sand and sandy loam soil types. Soil EC was highly correlated to soil texture (R =0.916) and draft force across the field. 2