Co-Authors:
Hadas, A., Department of Soil Physics, Institute of Soils and Water, ARO-The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Shmulewich, I., Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Qiriat haTechnion, Haifa 32000 Israel
Abstract:
Tillage changes the spatial distribution of the soil structural units and clods and consequently the soil physical and mechanical properties. A recording cone penetrometer was used to determine soil strength along transects, prior to and after deep ploughing (40 cm) and deep ploughing followed by shallow secondary tillage (duckfoot cultivator and rototiller). The data were analysed geostatistically to compare power spectra of the resistance data. Distinct periodic variations in soil structural arrangements were found under a freshly ploughed plot, which conformed to the dimensions and possible spatial positioning of the clods. Aggressive secondary tillage (rototilling) obliterated some of the periodic pattern. But the basic periodic variations conforming to clod dimensions could still be detected. © 1990.