Effects of machine-induced soil compaction on growth and yield of sugarcane

Abstract

Problem statement: Sugarcane is one of the main economic crops in Thailand. After planting, it can be harvested annually for several successive ratoon crops. Recently, soil compaction due to mechanization has been recognized as a serious problem in sugarcane production. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effects of soil compaction on the growth and yield of sugarcane. Approach: The field experiments were conducted in loamy soil using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments of soil compaction prepared by 0, 5, 15 and 20 numbers of wheel passages of a tractor. Results: The results showed that soil compaction had significant effects on both the growth and yield of sugarcane, with the exceptions of tillering and Brix. The greatest reduction in yield compared with the control field was 22.9%, which resulted from compacting with 15 tractor passages. The influence of block or furrow irrigation was indicated by the positive effect that higher watering had on minimizing the impact of soil compaction on the growth of sugarcane. Conclusion: Effects of soil compaction on growth and yield of sugarcane were clarified to some extent. © 2010 Science Publications.