Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR08256
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(6)

Characterising and improving the deteriorating trends in soil physical quality under banana

V. Rasiah A D E , J. D. Armour A , P. W. Moody B , A. B. Pattison C , S. Lindsay C and S. Florentine D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Environment & Resource Management, 28 Peters St, Mareeba, Qld 4880, Australia.

B Department of Environment & Resource Management, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.

C Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, PO Box 20, South Johnstone, Qld 4859, Australia.

D Centre for Environmental Management, University of Ballarat, PO Box 663, Ballarat, Vic. 3350, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: rasiah_v@nrw.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 47(6) 574-584 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR08256
Submitted: 28 November 2008  Accepted: 16 June 2009   Published: 30 September 2009

Abstract

Deterioration in soil physical quality under intensive tillage practices is a norm rather than an exception. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate total porosity (TP) as an indicator parameter to assess the impact of banana cropping on compaction and infiltration in soils, and (ii) assess the effectiveness of different interrow grass-covers in minimising the deteriorating trends. Depth-incremented TP under banana rows and interrows from 4 sites, corresponding forest sites, and from 3 interrow grass-cover treatments were computed from bulk density measurements. The TP results show the compacted depth ranged from 0.35 to 0.45 m in banana rows and from 0.35 to 1.0 m in the interrows. The TP in 0.10 m depth increments decreased in the order: forest > rows > interrows, and was positively correlated with soil organic C (OC) and negatively with wheel traffic stress (WTS). The multiple regression analysis showed that 77% of the variability in TP was accounted for by clay + silt, OC, and WTS. We show that a threshold compaction index (DIt) of 0.81–0.83 can be estimated from TP regardless of the soil type. Depending on the soil type and the cultural practices followed, infiltration decreased from 0.75 mm/s in rainforest to 0.23 mm/s under banana in 1 soil type compared with 2.55 mm/s in forest and 0.85 mm/s under banana in another. After 18 months of interrow grass-covers we found the deterioration in TP was minimum under the indigenous grass-cover but not under the 2 improved species. We conclude the interrow grass-covers were effective in minimising WTS associated compaction and reduction in infiltration.

Additional keywords: total porosity, compaction index, wheel traffic stress, infiltration, row vs. interrow, grass-covers.


Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Horticulture Research and Development Council of Australia, and the field and laboratory support provided by Messrs D. H. Heiner and M. Dwyer and Mss D. E. Rowan and T. Whiteing.


References


Arshad MA, Coen GM (1992) Characterisation of soil quality: physical and chemical criteria. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 7, 25–31. open url image1

Assouline S (2006) Modelling the relationship between soil bulk density and the hydraulic conductivity functions. Vadose Zone Journal 5, 697–705.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Augeard B, Bresson LM, Assouline S, Kao C, Vauclin M (2008) Dynamics of soil surface bulk density: Role of water table elevation and rainfall duration. Soil Science Society of America Journal 72, 412–423.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | open url image1

Baker J (2003) A report on the study of land-sourced pollutants and their impacts on water quality in and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane, Australia.

Bell MJ, Bridge BJ, Harch GR, Orange DN (1997) Physical rehabilitation of degraded kransnozems using ley pastures. Australian Journal of Soil Research 35, 1093–1113.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bell MJ, Moody PW, Yo SA, Connolly RD (1999) Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of the sustainability of Ferrosol farming systems. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 279–287.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Blair N, Crocker GJ (2000) Crop rotation effects on soil carbon and physical fertility of two Australian soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 71–84.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bouwer H (1986) Intake rate: cylinder infiltrometer. In ‘Methods of soil analysis, Part 1, Physical and mineralogical methods’. (Ed. A Klute) (ASA/SSSA: Madison, WI)

Bridge BJ, Bell MJ (1994) Effect of cropping on the physical fertility of krasnozems. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32, 1253–1273.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Brodie J , McKergow , Prosser IP , Furnas M , Hughes AO , Hunter H (2003) Sources of sediment and nutrient exports to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. ACTFR Report 03/11. Townsville, Australia.

Bruand A, Cousin I (1996) Variation of textural porosity of a clay-loam soil during compaction. International Journal of Rock Mechanics 33(5), 202A.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Congdon A, Herbohn JL (1993) Ecosystem dynamics of disturbed and undisturbed sites in north Queensland wet tropical rainforest. I. Florestic composition and climate change. Journal of Tropical Ecology 9, 349–363.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dexter AR (2004) Soil physical quality Part 1. Theory, effects of soil texture, density, and organic matter, and effects on root growth. Geoderma 120, 201–214.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Doran JW , Coleman DC , Bezdicek DF , Stewart BA (1994) Defining and assessing soil quality. In ‘Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment’. Soil Science Society of America, Special Publication No. 35. (SSSA: Madison, WI)

Drewry JJ, Cameron KC, Buchan GD (2008) Pasture yield and soil physical property responses to soil compaction from treading and grazing—a review. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 237–256.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Fies JC (1992) Analysis of soil textural porosity relative to skeleton particle size, using mercury porosimetry. Soil Science Society of America Journal 56, 1062–1067. open url image1

Gee GW , Bauder JW (1986) Particle-size analysis. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1’. 2nd edn. Agronomy Monograph 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 383–411. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)

Gregorich ED (1996) Soil quality: a Canadian perspective. In ‘Soil quality indicators for sustainable agriculture in New Zealand. Proceedings of Workshop for MAF Policy by the Lincoln Soil Quality Research Centre’. Lincoln University, New Zealand. Lincoln Soil Quality Research Centre Publication No. 1. (Lincoln University: Lincoln, NZ)

Hulugalle NR (1992) Ameliration of highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting. I. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties. Land Degradation & Development 3, 141–152.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Isbell RF (1994) Krasnozems – a profile. Australian Journal of Soil Research 32, 915–929.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian soil classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Kang BT, Salako FK, Akobundu IO, Pleysier JL, Chanu JN (1997) Amelioration of a degraded Oxic Paleustalf by leguminous and natural fallow. Soil Use and Management 13(3), 130–136.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kernot I , Lindsay S , Campagnolo D , Daniells J , Evans D , et al (1998) Agrilink tropical banana information kit. Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, QAL9807.

Kostiakov AN (1932) On the dynamics of coefficient of water-percolation in soils and the necessity of studying it from a dynamic point of view for purposes of ameliorations. Transactions Communications of the International Society of Soil Science 6, 267–272. open url image1

McGarry D (1990) Soil compaction and cotton growth on a vertisol. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 869–877.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Murtha GG (1986) Soils of Tully–Innisfail area, North Queensland. CSIRO Division of Soil, Divisional Report No. 82.

Prove BG, Loch RJ, Foley JL, Anderson VJ, Younger DR (1990) Improvements in aggregation and infiltration characteristics of a krasnozem under maize with direct drill and stubble retention. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28, 577–590.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Reichert JM, Suzuki LEAS, Reinert DJ, Horn R, Hakansson I (2009) Reference bulk density and critical degree-of-compactness for no-till crop production in subtropical highly weathered soils. Soil & Tillage Research 102, 242–254.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Richard G, Boziard H, Roger-Estrade J, Boiffin J, Guerif J (1999) Field study of soil compaction due to traffic in northern France: pore space and morphological analysis of the compacted zones. Soil & Tillage Research 51, 151–160.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

SAS (1991) ‘SAS/STAT Procedure for Personal Computers, Version 5.’ (Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Inc.: Cary, NC)

Stange FC, Horn R (2005) Modeling soil water retention curve for conditions of variable porosity. Vadose Zone Journal 4, 602–613.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Talbot LM, Turton SM, Graham W (2003) Trampling resistance of rainforest soils and vegetation in the wet tropics of north east Australia. Journal of Environmental Management 69, 63–69.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed | open url image1

Warrick AW, Lomen DO, Yates RS (2005) A generalized solution to infiltration. Soil Science Society of America Journal 49, 34–38. open url image1

Zou C, Sand R, Buchan G, Hudson I (2000) Least limiting water range: a potential indicator of physical quality of forest soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 947–958.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1