STUDY OF SOIL TEXTURE AND MOISTURE CONTENT EFFECT ON SOIL COMPACTION FOR LONG-YEAR TILLED FARM LAND

Abstract

Farm mechanization is the main indicator of modernizing the agriculture and use of farm machines that can take the place of human and animal power in agricultural processes. During field operation the weight of farm machinery compact the agricultural soil due to the contact with the tires or tracks of tractors. The aim of the article is to study the effects of soil texture and moisture content on soil compaction. During field experimental test 5 different depth (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm) were selected for taking soil compaction data and soil samples at three depth range (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) from Kulumsa Agricultural research center farm land at two seasons. During compaction test 15 sample point data were taken from 0.6 ha farm land. The result of the study shows from average of all sample point the maximum and minimum value of soil compaction value where 3.73 Mpa and 3.032 Mpa during harvesting season and 1.37 Mpa and 1.19 Mpa during seeding season respectively. The laboratory result shows farm land soil is clay with 25.0% of sand, 51% of clay and 24 % silt during both experimental seasons. The maximum and minimum percentage of soil moisture value where 28.92% and 20.04% during harvesting season and 41.8% and 30.8% at 20 to 30 cm and 0 to 10 cm depth respectively.