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Identification of Optimum Seedbed Preparation and Establishment Using Soil Structural Visualisation

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Identification of Optimum Seedbed Preparation and Establishment Using Soil Structural Visualisation Identification of optimum seedbed preparation and establishment using soil structural visualisation By: Brian S. Atkinson (MGeol Geology; FGS) Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2008 Abstract A key aspect of the condition of soil as a medium for growing plants is the soil physical environment under which germination, growth and establishment occur. Crucially this affects factors such as water content, oxygen availability and soil strength. The dynamics of soil physical properties, and in particular soil structure, of a range of soils and how they relate to plant establishment are considered in this thesis. By engineering a variety of seedbeds and contrasting soil structures using different cultivation techniques, from intensive (plough) to reduced (disc) strategies, significant differences in the physical properties of the soils in terms of volumetric water content, soil strength and bulk density and interactions with plant establishment were identified. A model for Soil Quality of Establishment (SQE) was developed to predict plant establishment based upon soil bulk density and cultivation practices which significantly accounted for c. 50% of the variation occurring across contrasting soil types and environmental conditions. It was hypothesized from this that the precise porous architecture (i.e. soil structure) plays a crucial role in plant establishment given soil bulk density was a significant factor in the SQE model. Utilizing X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) both at a macro (c.300µm) and meso (c.65µm) scale soil structure (in terms of: porosity, pore area and perimeter, elongation, nearest neighbour distance, ECD and pore distribution) were determined in a quantitative manner. Results showed significant decreases in plant populations with associated increases in the soil porosity, with strong links to the pore size, roughness and spatial distribution (accounting for soil-seed contact, water storage / flow and ease of plant / root movement within the soil). Preferred porosity conditions for establishment and yield occurred between 12 - 20 % porosity (at the meso scale). SQE prediction was significantly improved with the addition of structural properties accounting for c. 70 % variation in crop establishment across soil texture and seasonal variation. The further 30 % variation in crop establishment may be explained by unforeseen circumstances such as disease and weather but equally this may also be related to crop genetics, soil chemistry and or the biological activities within the soil. ii CONTENTS Abstract..........................................................................................................................ii Contents ....................................................................................................................... iii Dedication.....................................................................................................................ix Acknowledgements........................................................................................................x List of Tables ................................................................................................................xi List of Figures..............................................................................................................xii Chapter 1: General Introduction ................................................................1 1.1 Rationale ........................................................................................................1 1.2 Literature review............................................................................................3 1.2.1 Seedbed dynamics......................................................................................3 1.2.2 Plant establishment ....................................................................................5 1.2.3 Effects of the seedbed environment on plant establishment......................6 1.2.3.1 Soil water content and potential............................................................6 1.2.3.2 Soil temperature....................................................................................8 1.2.3.3 Soil texture............................................................................................8 1.2.3.4 Soil strength ..........................................................................................9 1.2.3.5 Bulk density ........................................................................................10 1.2.3.6 Oxygen diffusion ................................................................................11 1.2.3.7 Aggregate size.....................................................................................11 1.2.3.8 Soil stability and crusting....................................................................12 1.2.3.9 Soil organic matter..............................................................................13 1.2.3.10 Crop residue.....................................................................................14 1.2.4 Effects of seeding on establishment.........................................................15 1.2.4.1 Sowing date.........................................................................................15 1.2.4.2 Seeding rate.........................................................................................16 1.2.4.3 Previous cropping ...............................................................................16 1.2.4.4 Seed variety.........................................................................................17 1.2.4.5 Seeding depth......................................................................................17 1.2.5 Cultivation................................................................................................18 1.2.5.1 Effect of cultivation ............................................................................19 1.2.5.2 Cultivation equipment.........................................................................20 1.2.5.2.1 Plough .............................................................................................20 1.2.5.2.2 Disc harrow.....................................................................................20 1.2.5.2.3 Power harrow..................................................................................21 1.2.5.2.4 Tine .................................................................................................21 iii 1.2.5.2.5 Drill.................................................................................................23 1.2.5.2.6 Cambridge roller .............................................................................23 1.2.6 Effect of cultivation on establishment .....................................................23 1.2.6.1 Compaction.........................................................................................25 1.2.6.2 Soil degradation and nutrient loss.......................................................27 1.2.7 Examination of soil structure...................................................................28 1.2.7.1 Soil structure .......................................................................................28 1.2.7.2 Quantification of soil structure ...........................................................30 1.2.7.3 Using X-ray Computed Tomography to examine soil structure.........31 1.3 Research aim and objectives........................................................................36 1.4 Thesis structure ............................................................................................37 Chapter 1A: Method Development..........................................................38 1A.1 The effect of soil structure upon establishment (Glasshouse) .....................38 1A.1.1 Sample Preparation .............................................................................39 1A.1.2 Sampling .............................................................................................41 1A.1.3 Results.................................................................................................42 1A.1.3.1 Crop measurements..........................................................................42 1A.1.3.2 Soil structure ....................................................................................64 1A.1.4 Summary.............................................................................................65 1A.2 Barley establishment under four spring cultivations (Field Trial)...............66 1A.2.1 Field site and experimental design......................................................66 1A.2.2 Results.................................................................................................69 1A.2.2.1 Seedbed physical condition..............................................................69 1A.2.2.2 Seedbed macro structure..................................................................69 1A.2.2.3 Seedbed meso structure....................................................................72 1A.2.3 Summary conclusion...........................................................................76 iv Chapter 2: Using selected soil physical properties of seedbeds to predict crop establishment ....................................................................................78 Abstract........................................................................................................................79 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................79
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