Modifying Plowpans to Improve Cotton Root Growth

Charles B. Elkins


 
ABSTRACT

Roots of many crop plants are sensitive to soil compaction. Plowpans sometimes restrict the entire root system of a crop to the plow layer, denying plants use of subsoil water and nutrients. Subsoiling or other forms of deep tillage are often used to disrupt plowpans, but it may be more desirable to use perennial grasses or special types of tillage to modify plowpans. Long-term modification of plowpans by bahiagrass and a new form of tillage called 'slit-tillage' have overcome soil oxygen and soil strength constraints on plant root growth. Rooting depth and yield of cotton and soybeans were improved by these methods of plowpan modification. Studies of tall fescue root systems have revealed diversity of root characteristics that should make possible the development of cultivars with superior ability to penetrate compacted soil. Modification of plowpans by plant roots and slit-tillage are feasible alternatives to subsoiling and chiseling.



Reprinted from 1985 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pp. 299 - 300
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

[Main TOC] | [TOC] | [TOC by Section] | [Search] | [Help]
Previous Page [Previous] [Next] Next Page
 
Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998