Possible soil frost control by snow compaction on winter wheat fields

Abstract

The appropriate control of soil frost depth could potentially balance wheat production and kill unharvested potato tubers. We examined possible soil frost control by snow compaction on winter wheat, without reducing wheat productivity. The target soil frost depth was more than 0.3 m, because our previous studies indicated the complete kill of unharvested potato tubers at such depths. The target frost depth was achieved by two snow compaction events following the development of a decision-making system by our research group to accomplish appropriate frost depth for the frost-kill of unharvested potato tubers. The yield components of winter wheat were not significantly different between the designed and control (no compaction) practices. Frequent compaction significantly reduced grain yield by causing a decline in shoot dry weight and the number of spikelets. Our results indicate that soil frost depth control may contribute toward balancing both wheat yield and the frost-kill of unharvested potato tubers.