Tillage effects on soil physical condition and root growth associated with sugarcane water availability

Author(s)

Scarpare, Fabio Vale ^{[1, 2]} ; van Lier, Quirijn de Jong ^[1] ; de Camargo, Larissa ^[3] ; Pires, R. C. M. ^[3] ; Ruiz-Correa, Simone Toni ^[4] ; Bezerra, A. H. F. ^[1] ; Gava, G. J. C. ^[5] ; Dias, C. T. S. ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, CENA, Av Centenario 303, BR-13416000 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, FEM, Cidade Univ Zeferino Vaz, BR-13083860 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] IAC, Av Barao Itapura, BR-13012970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Av Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[5] IAC, Expt Stn, Rodovia SP 304 Km, BR-17201970 Jau, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH; v. 187, p. 110-118, APR 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

We hypothesized that in-row deep tillage (DT) may improve crop resilience during dry spells through change in the soil physical/hydraulic properties, in root system development and yield. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the influence of this management on soil physical properties and root growth associated with sugarcane water availability. A three-year experiment on a sandy-clay haplustox was used for the assessment of water retention, bulk density, porosity, pressure head, temperature and plant response (yield and root system). Soil carbon stocks were also assessed in the soil profile. The treatments compared of conventional tillage (CT), which consisted of a 0.3 m ploughing followed by two disking graders with 20{''} discs and one light disking leveler grade, and DT, a subsoiler rod (0.8 m deep) with a rotary hoe with 16 knives to raise crop seedbed in rows. Our results reveal that DT resulted in lower bulk density and higher total porosity values than CT in most cases for the surface soil layers. Moreover, while the soil water relations did not show significant difference for total water availability, the soil water pressure head monitoring indicated a trend of more negative values under CT management, i.e., a drier condition. Additionally, DT resulted in better root system development referring to root density and root length density. However, DT resulted in lower sugarcane yield. The experiment was carried out under rainfed conditions, but rainfall distribution did not limit sugarcane production. Therefore, under the mild water stress conditions as observed in this study, the observed root biomass increase did not favor sugarcane yield. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/09133-1 - Cane yield and water balance assessment in expansion areas according to agricultural management adopted in the context of climate change
• Grantee: Fábio Vale Scarpare
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral