ASAC 1101 : FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE (2+1)
Level : [Link] (Ag), I semester
Dr. PEDDA GHOUSE PEERA S.K.
SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
[Link] SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE,CUTM,
PARLAKHEMUNDI
Topic
Soil density, crusting and tillage
Soil density
1. Particle density:
• Soil particle density Dp is defined as the mass per unit
volume of soil solids
• Thus, if 1 m3 of soil solids weighs 2.6 megagrams (Mg), the
particle density is 2.6 Mg/ m3 (which can also be expressed
as 2.6 grams per cubic centimeter)
• Particle density is essentially the same as the specific
gravity of a solid substance
• Particle densities for most mineral soils vary between the
narrow limits of 2.60 and 2.75 Mg/ m3
2. Bulk density:
• Bulk density Db, which is defined as the mass of a unit
volume of dry soil. This volume includes both solids and
pores
• The units are same as particle density
• But the value of bulk density is changeable unlike particle
density
• Generally coring instruments are used to determine the soil
bulk density
Determination of soil bulk density
Cylindrical core:
• The sampler head contains an
inner cylinder and is driven into
the soil with blows from a drop
hammer
• The inner core containing an
undisturbed soil core. Trimmed
on the end with a knife. The
volume can easily be calculated
from its length and diameter.
• The weight of soil is calculated
after drying
Calculations of Dp and Db
Calculations of Dp and Db
Factors affecting Db
• Effect of Soil Texture- Fine-textured soils have lower bulk density
than the coarse-textured soil
• Effect of soil structure- The well aggregated soils have lower Db than
poorly aggregated soils.
• Effect of Organic matter- Organic matter helps to form a good
aggregation. So, it reduces the bulk density of the soil
• Depth of Soil Profile- Pore space reduces with the increase in soil
depth. So, Db generally increased
Agricultural Land:
• The long-term intense tillage increases soil bulk density by depleting soil
organic matter and weakening soil structure
• In mechanized agriculture, the wheels of heavy machines used to pull
implements, apply amendments, or harvest crops can create yield-limiting soil
compaction (plow pans or traffic pans)
• Vehicle tires (750 kg load per
tire) compact soil to about 50 cm
• The more narrow the tire, the
deeper it sinks and the deeper its
compaction effect
Influence of Db on soil strength and root
growth
Effect of Soil Water Content:
Soil strength is increased when a soil
is compacted to a higher bulk density,
and also when finer-textured soils dry
out and harden. So, it can easily
restrict the growth of the root
• Effect of Soil Texture:
The more clay present in a soil, the smaller the average pore size,
and the greater the resistance to penetration at a given bulk
density than the sandy soil
• Effect of Land Use and Management:
Land uses as row crop agriculture often markedly and
simultaneously affect soil bulk density and strength in ways that
restrict or enhance root growth and water movement
Tillage
The preparation of soil for planting and the cultivation of soil after planting.
TNAU Agritech Portal
Tillage and soil tilth
Tilth refers to the physical condition of the soil in relation to plant growth.
It depends on-
• Aggregate formation
• Stability
• Bulk density
• Soil moisture content
• Degree of aeration
• Rate of water infiltration
• Drainage
• Capillary water capacity
Conventional tillage
Farmers use machines like a plow or disc to turn over and loosen the soil
after harvest (a process called tillage). This can leave the soil exposed to
rain and wind, which can sometimes lead to erosion of the topsoil that
is needed to grow a crop
[Link]
Types of conventional tillage
• Primary tillage: Primary tillage is the first soil tillage after the last
harvest. It is normally conducted when the soil is wet enough to allow
plowing and strong enough to give reasonable levels of traction. This
can be immediately after the crop harvest or at the beginning of the
next wet season. When there is sufficient power available some soil
types are ploughed dry.
• Objectives
1. To attain a reasonable depth (10-15 cm) of soft soil with varying clod sizes
2. Kill weeds by burying or cutting and exposing the roots
3. Soil aeration and water accumulation
4. chop and incorporate crop residues
Types of conventional tillage
• Secondary tillage: Secondary tillage is any working completed after
primary tillage and is undertaken for
1. Reducing clod size
2. Weed control
3. Incorporation of fertilizers
4. Puddling
5. Leveling soil surface
[Link]
Puddling
TNAU Agritech Portal
Conservation tillage and soil tilth
In recent decades, agricultural land-management systems have been developed
that minimize the need for soil tillage and leave the soil surface largely covered
by plant residues, thereby maintaining
• Soil biological habitat
• Stabilizing soil structure
• Conserving soil organic matter
• Physically protecting the soil from drying sun, scouring wind, and beating rain
These systems are called conservation tillage.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines conservation tillage as that
which leaves at least 30% of the soil surface covered by residues
Conservation tillage
This is a technique for planting seed that minimizes the disruption of
soil and therefore helps prevent soil erosion. Farmers use special
equipment to plant seeds, leaving most of the residues (e.g. stalks) of
the previous crop intact. Planting in this way allows the crop residue to
break down, which adds organic matter (like composting) while
protecting the soil from erosion
Morning Ag Clips
No till
One crop is planted in the residue of another, with virtually no tillage.
Soil crusting
• Falling drops of water during heavy rain or
sprinkler irrigation can beat apart aggregates
exposed at the soil surface
• Once the aggregates become dispersed, small
particles and dispersed clay tend to wash into
and clog the soil pores Integrated Crop Management - Iowa State University
• Soon the soil surface is covered with a thin,
partially cemented, low permeability layer
material called a surface seal
• As the surface seal dries, it forms a hard crust
Problems of soil crusting
• Inhibits water infiltration
• Increases erosion losses
• Inhibits emergence of seedlings
• In arid and semiarid regions, soil sealing and crusting can have
disastrous consequences because high runoff losses leave little water
available to support plant growth
Soil Crust Struggles to break a soil crust
Management of soil crusting
• Keeping some vegetative or mulch cover on
the land to reduce the impact of raindrops.
• Once a crust has formed, it may be necessary
to rescue a newly planted crop by breaking up
the crust with light tillage (as with a rotary
hoe), preferably while the soil is still moist. Farmlink
• It can be minimized by using Soil Conditions.
Soil conditioners
• Improved management of soil organic matter and use of certain soil
amendments can “condition” the soil and help prevent clay dispersion and crust
formation.
1. Gypsum
2. Organic Polymers
• Gypsum-
1. Used for collecting the soil physical condition
2. Used in low salinity to sodium rich soil
3. Improve the flocculation of the soil
• Organic Conditioners –
Polyacrylamide (PAM) is effective in stabilizing surface aggregates when applied
at rates as low as 1–15 mg/L of irrigation water or sprayed on at rates as low as
1–4 kg/ha.