Martlewetal2023_Data
Date published
2024-08-05
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Cranfield University
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Abstract
Description
The intensification of arable agriculture has resulted in an increase in vehicle wheel load and the intensity of field operations, which has increased the risk and
incidence of degradation in physical properties of the uncultivated subsoil layer. Biopores generated by the long-term, repeated use of specific cover crops
within an arable rotation has been suggested as an approach to improve subsoil physical properties. Therefore, this paper aimed to determine the impact of
long-term repeated cover cropping and the interaction of rotation treatments with different cultivation approaches on subsoil physical properties. Data was
collected at the NIAB ‘Sustainable Trial for Arable Rotations’ long-term, rotation and cultivation field experiment established in 2006. Rotation treatments
comprised a brassica cover crop alternated annually with winter wheat (ALTCC) compared to continuous winter wheat (CWW). Cultivation treatments
comprised PLOUGH (250 mm depth), and non-inversion cultivation at 250 mm (DEEP) and 100 mm (SHALLOW) depths. Penetration resistance and volumetric
soil moisture were collected at bi-monthly intervals during the 2018/19 growing season. Undisturbed soil cores were collected for laboratory analyses of soil
water retention, water stable aggregates, root morphology digital scanning and biomass, and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Results showed that
treatment ALTCC combined with SHALLOW, resulted in lower penetration resistance and increased moisture in the subsoil. This increased subsoil moisture
persisted later into the season compared to the control. SHALLOW increased subsoil water retention, improved subsoil root morphology and increased
subsoil porosity. Benefits from treatment ALTCC were not observed where combined with higher intensity, deeper cultivation. Overall, the combination of
treatments ALTCC with SHALLOW, produced significant benefits to subsoil physical properties.
Software Description
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Github
Keywords
subsoil, soil properties, cover crop, cultivation
DOI
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Attribution 4.0 International
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Funder/s
The Felix Thornley Cobbold Trust, The Chadacre Trust, The Morley Agricultural Foundation and NIAB