Effect of Foliar Applied Plant Elicitors on Microbial and Nematode Populations in the Root Zone of Potato

Abstract

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a process whereby a plant that successfully resists a pathogen becomes highly resistant to subsequent infection not only by the original pathogen but also by a wide variety of pathogens. Most SAR research has focused on resistance in leaves, so much less is known about the effectiveness of foliar applications of SAR compounds in the protection of plant roots and associated microorganisms in soil. This study was conducted to determine if foliar SAR‐inducing applications (BTH or harpin) negatively impact the potato root system beneficial rhizosphere microbial populations and activity or influence pathogenic nematode populations. Foliar applications of benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole‐7‐carbothioic acid S‐methyl ester (BTH) and the microbial protein harpin applied in various combinations, timings, and rates showed no effects on microbial biomass, culturable bacteria, Pseudomonas populations, or N‐mineralization potentials over 2 years. No stimulatory or inhibitory effects on major bacterial populations were observed, indicating that SAR induction does not have a negative effect on general microbial populations or activities. BTH and harpin both reduced the numbers of lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) by potato harvest. BTH reduced root knot nematodes, Meloidogyne chitwoodi at the end of the season. In addition, BTH and high‐dose harpin (applied at the 4× rate) reduced the nematode infection index in comparison to the control. The SAR elicitors increased the population densities of nontarget free‐living nematodes in the soil compared to the control. Potato yields were not affected by plant elicitors but BTH and harpin both reduced the number of culled potatoes 26% compared to the control. Future studies are designed to determine if these plant elicitors have any direct effect on rhizosphere diversity or if plants with active defense pathways alter carbon flow and root exudates into the soil.     

Sources of powdery mildew resistance in a wild barley collection

A total of 1,383 accessions of wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) held in the USDA-National Small Grains Collection, Aberdeen were screened for resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) in the Czech Republic. They were subsequently tested at the seedling stage for reaction to selected powdery mildew pathotypes and simultaneously for their adult plant resistance in the field. One hundred and twenty-three accessions exhibited resistance to 22 pathotypes in the greenhouse tests (reaction type 2–3 or lower) as well as resistance to the natural population of this pathogen in the field in the Czech Republic during at least 2-year testing. These accessions represent large amount of promising sources in breeding barley for resistance to powdery mildew.     

Root associated organisms modify the effectiveness of chemically induced resistance in barley

Induced resistance (IR) offers a lasting defense against a broad spectrum of diseases in various plants, but practical applicability is impaired by unpredictable effectiveness. Here we present the results of two greenhouse experiments on the modification of the effectiveness of BION^® (acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH)) induced resistance against powdery mildew in barley by different levels of root infection with mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum) and parasitic nematodes (Heterodera avenae), respectively.Root infection by mycorrhizal fungi and nematodes both had a negative effect on plant growth. Adverse effects of G. etunicatum suggest that parasitic effects of mycorrhizal fungi outweighed positive effects under the optimal growth conditions provided by the experiment. Bion^® either did not affect or decreased the number of lesions caused by powdery mildew at low and medium levels of infection by G. etunicatum or H. avenae, but increased it at high levels of root infection. This clearly proves the important role of root-associated biota in modulating the effectiveness of IR. However, plant accumulation of the resistance related protein BCI-4 was not impaired by G. etunicatum or H. avenae. Soil biota thus appear to impact later steps of the defense pathway, rather than preventing the onset of resistance.     

Resistance to powdery mildew in populations of barley landraces from Morocco

Forty-eight populations of barley landraces collected from Morocco were screened for resistance to powdery mildew and a number of different resistance genes were detected. Landraces originated from the collection of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas – ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria. Twenty populations of tested landraces (about 42%) showed resistance reactions and 46 single plant lines were selected. Fourteen of these lines were tested in the seedling stage with 17 and another 32 lines with 23 differential isolates of powdery mildew, respectively. The isolates were chosen according to their virulence spectra observed on the Pallas isolines differential set. Five lines originating from five populations of landraces showed resistance to all prevalent in Europe powdery mildew virulence genes. Thirty-five lines (76%) showed resistance reaction type 2. The distribution of reaction type scores indicated that about 81% of all reaction types observed were classified as powdery mildew resistance (scores 0, 1 and 2). In forty-one lines (89%) the presence of unknown genes alone or in combination with a specific one was detected. Four different resistance alleles (Mlat, Mla6, Mla14 and Mla22) were postulated to be present in the tested lines alone or in combination. Among specific resistance alleles the most common was allele Mlat (resistance Atlas). This allele was postulated to be present in twenty-three (50%) tested lines. The use of new identified sources of resistance to powdery mildew in barley breeding is discussed.     

大麦白粉病抗性的遗传分析与QTL定位

为探究大麦白粉病抗性遗传,定位其抗性QTL,本研究以抗病品种Gairdner和感病品种扬饲麦1号杂交F₁花药培养构建的DH群体及亲本为材料,对大麦白粉病抗性进行鉴定与遗传分析,并利用91对在亲本间多态性好的SSR标记构建了群体的遗传连锁图谱,采用Windows QTL IciMapping 4.0软件中的完备区间-加性模型对大麦白粉病抗性QTL进行定位。结果表明,DH群体各系间存在丰富的大麦白粉病抗性遗传变异。共检测到5个与大麦白粉病抗性相关的QTLs。其中3个时期均检测到qPM-2Ha位于Bmag0711-AWBMS56区间,可解释的表型变异为7.48%~12.50%;qPM-4Ha位于EBmac0906-HVM68区间,可解释的表型变异为23.07%~32.09%;2个时期均检测到qPM-2Hb位于Bmag0749-GBM1475区间,可解释的表型变异为6.22%~8.13%。qPM-2Ha、qPM-4Ha及qPM-2Hb白粉病抗性基因均来源于抗病亲本Gairdner, qPM-3Ha和qPM-4Hb白粉病抗性基因来源于感病亲本扬饲麦1号,qPM-2Hb和qPM-3Ha可能是2个新的大麦白粉病抗性QTLs位点。本研究结果为大麦白粉病抗性基因的发掘、精细定位、克隆及分子标记辅助选择育种奠定了基础。     

Benzothiadiazole induces the accumulation of phenolics and improves resistance to powdery mildew in strawberries

Benzothiadiazole (BTH) enhanced the accumulation of soluble and cell-wall-bound phenolics in strawberry leaves and also improved the resistance to powdery mildew infection under greenhouse conditions. The most pronounced change was seen in the levels of ellagitannins, which increased up to 2- to 6-fold 4 days after the BTH application, but persisted only in the inoculated plants. The induction of phenolic metabolism by BTH was also reflected in the fruits, several compounds being increased in inoculated, BTH-treated plants. Basal salicylic acid (SA) content was high in strawberry leaves, but increased in a similar fashion to other phenolics after the treatments. Several phenolic compounds were identified in strawberries for the first time. For example, ellagic acid deoxyhexose, three agrimoniin-like ellagitannins, sanguiin H-10- and lambertianin C-like ellagitannins in the leaves, ellagic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and kaempferol hexose in the cell-wall-bound fraction of the leaves, and kaempferol malonylglucoside in the fruits. The findings show that BTH can enhance the accumulation of phenolics in strawberry plants which may then be involved in the BTH-induced resistance to powdery mildew.     

Potassium substitution by sodium in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) nutrition on K‐fixing soils

Alluvial soils with illite and vermiculite clay minerals are highly potassium (K)‐fixing. Such soils have been reported to require a huge amount of K fertilization for optimum plant growth. For halophytic plants such as sugar beet, sodium (Na) can be an alternative to K under such conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the possible substitution of K by Na fertilization with reference to K‐fixing soils. Three soils, i.e., Kleinlinden (subsoil), Giessen (alluvial), and Trebur (alluvial), differing in K‐fixing capacities, were selected, and sugar beet plants were grown in Ahr pots with 15 kg soil pot^–1. Three treatments (no K and Na, K equal to K‐fixing capacity of soil, and Na equivalent to regular K fertilization) were applied. In a second experiment, containers (90 cm × 40 cm × 40 cm) were used with 170 kg Kleinlinden soil each, and one sugar beet plant per container was grown. In both experiments, plants were grown till beet maturity, and beets were analyzed for sucrose concentration and other quality parameters such as α‐amino nitrogen to calculate white‐sugar yield with the New Brunswick formula. The results showed that growth and quality of sugar beet were not affected by Na application, and ultimately there was no decrease in white‐sugar yield. Moreover, the soils with more K‐fixing capacity were more suitable for K substitution by Na. It is concluded that Na can substitute K in sugar beet nutrition to a high degree and soils with high K‐fixing capacity have more potential for this substitution.     

Phenotypic diversity of barley powdery mildew resistance sources

One hundred and twenty-one of 123 previously detected new sources of wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) resistant to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei), and originating from Mediterranean area, and 20 standards were tested at the seedling stage for reaction to 38 selected Israeli powdery mildew isolates. The obtained resistance spectrum (a set of resistant and susceptible reactions) of each accession was divided into triplets and converted to octal numbers. This concentrates information on the resistance phenotype of each accession and makes their comparison much easier. One hundred and thirty-four different resistance spectra were determined. No compatible reaction was found in standards possessing genes mlo and Mlhb2 and in the accession PI 466634. The results demonstrate large diversity in new resistance sources, their distinction from the sources described till now as well as diversity in powdery mildew resistance of wild barley in the Mediterranean area. The results facilitate more effective further studies of such a large set of new resistance sources, and contribute to speeding up their use in barley breeding.     

Osmotic stress and silicon act additively in enhancing pathogen resistance in barley against barley powdery mildew

Osmotic stress as well as silicon (Si) improve the resistance of barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Ingrid) against barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei Speer). Nothing is known about interactions, particularly whether Si is necessary for pathogen resistance induced by osmotic stress. In this paper, we show that Si nutrition was not necessary for osmotic‐stress‐induced pathogen resistance. Si‐mediated resistance could, however, be enhanced by osmotic stress and vice versa. Even at maximum Si‐mediated resistance, further enhancement of pathogen resistance by osmotic stress was possible. The fungus was controlled by the formation of effective papillae in both treatments. The combined effect of Si and osmotic stress was as strong as the calculated addition of the Si and the osmotic‐stress effect. Our data clearly show that the effect of osmotic stress and Si is not competitive but additive. A synergistic action of both treatments cannot be supported by our data. It is assumed that the basal pathogen resistance of barley is enhanced by Si due to strengthening of papillae in addition to the increased formation of effective papillae induced by osmotic stress. Therefore, the addition of Si increases pathogen resistance equally at all investigated NaCl concentrations. A function of Si in pathogen defense exceeding the strengthening of papillae is not supported by our data.     

Identification of new sources for resistance to powdery mildew in H. spontaneum-derived winter barley lines

Twenty four barley lines derived from the F ₇generation of crosses between two winter barley cultivars and different accessions of Hordeum spontaneum Koch collected in Israel were tested against a set of ten European and five Israeli powdery mildew cultures, possessing virulence genes which completely match the spectrum of known mildew resistance genes. The comparison of reaction patterns justified the conclusion that new genes for resistance have been conferred from H. spontaneum which also differ from genes previously identified in other wild barley accessions from Israel. Participation in the expression of the resistance reaction of one of the two barley cultivars used in the development of the lines is well documented in some cases. The majority of the lines was found to be highly resistant against all or almost all European isolates, while various kinds of reactions were observed against the Israeli cultures. The effective transfer of novel mildew resistance from H. spontaneum into winter barley confirms similar results with spring barley, indicating natural wild barley populations in Israel as a significant gene pool for yet unexploited mildew resistance in barley.     

Biochar application to temperate soils: Effects on soil fertility and crop growth under greenhouse conditions

Biochar (BC) application as a soil amendment has aroused much interest and was found to considerably improve soil nutrient status and crop yields on poor, tropical soils. However, information on the effect of BC on temperate soils is still insufficient, with effects expected to differ from tropical soils. We investigated the effects of BC on soil nutrient dynamics, crop yield, and quality in a greenhouse pot experiment. We compared three agricultural soils (Planosol, Cambisol, Chernozem), and BCs of three different feedstocks (wheat straw [WS], mixed woodchips [WC], vineyard pruning [VP]) slowly pyrolyzed at 525°C, of which the latter was also pyrolyzed at 400°C. The BCs were applied at two rates (1% and 3%, which would correspond to 30 and 90 t ha^–1 in the field). Three crops, namely mustard (Sinapis alba L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) were grown successively within one year. The investigated soil properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation‐exchange capacity (CEC), calcium‐acetate‐lactate (CAL)–extractable P (P_CAL) and K (K_CAL), C, N, and nitrogen‐supplying potential (NSP). The results show a pH increase in all soils. The CEC increased only on the Planosol. The C : N ratio increased at 3% application rate. Despite improving the soil nutrient status partly, yields of the first crop (mustard) and to a lesser extent of the second crop (barley) were significantly depressed through BC application (by up to 68%); the yield of clover as third crop was not affected. Only the BC from WS maintained yields in the range of the control and even increased barley yield by 6%. The initial yield reduction was accompanied by notable decreases (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) and increases (Mo) in micronutrient concentrations of plant tissues while nitrogen concentrations were hardly affected. The results of the pot experiment show that despite additional mineral fertilization, short‐term growth inhibition may occur when applying BC without further treatment to temperate soils.     

Resistance to powdery mildew and barley yellow dwarf in perennial Triticeae species

Summary In a collaborative effort between the USDA-ARS and CAAS, 50 accessions each of perennial Triticeae held at the Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Logan, Utah, U.S.A. and the Institute of Crop Germplasm Resources, Beijing, People's Republic of China were exchanged. Eighty six and 85 accessions of these germplasms were screened for powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe graminis DC) and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) strain GPV, respectively. Fifty seven and 72 accessions had resistance to powdery mildew and BYDV, respectively. These materials are valuable genetic resources for breeding disease resistances in three of the major cereal crops — wheat, barley, and rye.Abbreviations BYDV barley yellow dwarf virus - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay     

Genotype x environment interaction in the uptake of Cs and Sr from soils by plants

The soil‐plant transfer factors for Cs and Sr were analyzed in relationship to soil properties, crops, and varieties of crops. Two crops and two varieties of each crop: lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cv. Salad Bowl Green and cv. Lobjoits Green Cos, and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), cv. French Breakfast 3 and cv. Scarlet Globe, were grown on five different soils amended with Cs and Sr to give concentrations of 1 mg kg^–1 and 50 mg kg^–1 of each element. Soil‐plant transfer coefficients ranged between 0.12–19.10 (Cs) and 1.48–146.10 (Sr) for lettuce and 0.09–13.24 (Cs) and 2.99–93.00 (Sr) for radish. Uptake of Cs and Sr by plants depended on both plant and soil properties. There were significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences between soil‐plant transfer factors for each plant type at the two soil concentrations. At each soil concentration about 60 % of the variance in the uptake of the Cs and Sr was due to soil properties. For a given concentration of Cs or Sr in soil, the most important factor effecting soil‐plant transfer of these elements was the soil properties rather than the crops or varieties of crops. Therefore, for the varieties considered here, soil‐plant transfer of Cs and Sr would be best regulated through the management of soil properties. At each concentration of Cs and Sr, the main soil properties effecting the uptake of Cs and Sr by lettuce and radish were the concentrations of K and Ca, pH and CEC. Together with the concentrations of contaminants in soils, they explained about 80 % of total data variance, and were the best predictors for soil‐plant transfer. The different varieties of lettuce and radish gave different responses in soil‐plant transfer of Cs and Sr in different soil conditions, i.e. genotype x environment interaction caused about 30 % of the variability in the uptake of Cs and Sr by plants. This means that a plant variety with a low soil‐plant transfer of Cs and Sr in one soil could have an increased soil‐plant transfer factor in other soils. The broad implications of this work are that in contaminated agricultural lands still used for plant growing, contaminant‐excluding crop varieties may not be a reliable method for decreasing contaminant transfer to foodstuffs. Modification of soil properties would be a more reliable technique. This is particularly relevant to agricultural soils in the former USSR still affected by fallout from the Chernobyl disaster.     

Relationships among soil characteristics,plant macronutrients,and cardenolide accumulation in natural populations of Digitalis obscura

In the present study, we have investigated relationships among several soil parameters (pH, organic matter, total carbonate, macronutrients, electrical conductivity, cation‐exchange capacity) and macronutrient and cardenolide contents in leaves of wild Digitalis obscura plants. Young and mature leaves and soil samples were collected in ten different areas, corresponding to three Mediterranean bioclimatic belts (thermo‐, meso‐, and supramediterranean belts). Soil and leaf macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) contents and leaf cardenolide contents were determined. Bioclimatic conditions influenced the development of D. obscura, biomass being lowest in plant populations of the supramediterranean belt, but they did not exert any relevant effect on the contents of macronutrients in soils and plants. Magnesium (total and EDTA‐extracted) was the only soil macronutrient significantly correlated with its content in the plant. Cardenolide contents were negatively correlated with the N, P, and K contents in young leaves, whereas such correlations were highly significant and positive for Mg.     

Soil degradation in Kabd area,southwestern Kuwait City

Adverse environmental impacts of human activities are the main causes of soil degradation in the desert of Kuwait in general, and in Kabd area in particular. In this study, assessment of soil degradation in open and protected sites has been carried out using field measurements and laboratory investigations. The overall status of vegetation is nearly twice as low in vegetation cover in the open sites than in the protected ones due to overgrazing and off‐road transport. Compaction of soil due to pressure exerted on the soil by vehicles led to a significant reduction in its porosity, permeability and infiltration capacity. The average infiltration rate of the compacted soils is 51 per cent lower than that of the non‐compacted soils. The bulk density of the non‐compacted soils is 3.4 per cent lower than that of compacted soil. The average topsoil resistance of compacted soils has increased by 83 per cent in comparison with non‐compacted soil. Using the least squares method a relation between infiltration rate (IR) and penetration resistance (PR) of the topsoil for the study areas is found (i.e. IR = −0.148 PR + 1.85 with R² = 25 per cent). Soil strength within the soil profile shows maximum penetration resistance readings at 11.5 cm depth in average in compacted soils, while it shows maximum readings at 34.6 cm depth in average in non‐compacted soils. The adverse changes in the chemical properties due to soil compaction is also investigated. A restoration plan is needed in order to reduce land degradation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biomass and Phosphorus Uptake Responses of Maize to Phosphorus Application in Three Acid Soils from Southern Cameroon

Abstract

A phosphorus (P) greenhouse experiment was carried out with maize (Zea Mays L.) using surface horizons of three contrasted acid soils from southern Cameroon. The objectives were (i) to assess causal factors of maize differential growth and P uptake and (ii) to explore plant–soil interactions in acid soils under increasing P supply. Shoot and root dry‐matter yield and P uptake were significantly influenced by soil type and P rate (P<0.000), but the interaction was not significant. Soil properties that significantly (P<0.05) influenced maize growth variables were available P, soil pH, exchangeable bases [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg)], and exchangeable aluminium (Al). Data ordination through principal‐component analysis highlighted a four‐component model that accounted for 88.1% of total system variance (TSV) and summarized plant reaction in acid soil condition. The first component, associated with 36.1% of TSV, pointed at increasing root–shoot ratio with increasing soil acidity and exchangeable Al. The second component (24.6% of TSV) highlighted soil labile P pool increase as a function of P rate. The third and fourth components reflected nitrogen (N) accumulation in soils and soil texture variability, respectively.     

Analysis of Wheat Disease Resistance Data Originating from Screenings of Gatersleben Genebank Accessions during 1933 and 1992

Series of 10,348 accessions belonging to 21 species (hexaploid, tetraploid, diploid) of the genus Triticum and 489 accessions belonging to 20 species of the genus Aegilops were scored for disease resistance during a period of 60 years. Tests were performed at the seedling stage for powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. tritici March.), leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm. f. sp. tritici Erikss.), stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West. f. sp. tritici Erikss.) and eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron.) Deight.) but also at the adult plant stage considering powdery mildew, leaf rust, stripe rust, eyespot and glume blotch (Septoria nodorum Berk.). About 150,000 disease scores recorded on index cards using different scoring scales were transferred to the computer, converted into a 1–9 scale and used to summarise the results. Within the genus Triticum 20% of the material analysed was classified as heterogeneous. For the accessions without detectable segregation a large variability for resistance/susceptibility was detected. At the adult plant stage resistant accessions without visible infections were identified for all diseases. The percentages of resistant accessions at that growth stage were always higher than the ones found in the material tested at the seedling stage. The probability for finding resistant material was shown to be highest in the diploid species ( > 50%) but decreased with increasing ploidy level to about 10% in the hexaploids. For Aegilops it was shown that most of the accessions were homogeneous and highly resistant against powdery mildew (seedling and adult plant stage), leaf rust (adult plant stage) and eyespot (seedling and adult plant stage/natural infection). The data obtained for the individual accessions are available via Internet (http://www.ipk-gatersleben.de). An erratum to this article is available at .     

Resistance reaction to powdery mildew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe pisi</Emphasis>) in a germplasm collection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lathyrus cicera</Emphasis> from Iberian origin

Several Lathyrus species have a considerable potential as alternative pulses in sustainable dryland farming systems mainly due to their high tolerance to drought and disease resistance. Powdery mildew is a serious disease affecting several Lathyrus species. Little is known on the availability of resistance and the underlying resistance mechanisms against powdery mildew in the Lathyrus genus. The present study assessed and characterized the resistance reaction to powdery mildew, Erysiphe pisi, in a collection of Iberian Lathyrus cicera accessions. In general, a compatible reaction with no macroscopically visible necrosis was observed but accessions with reduced disease severity despite of a high infection type have also been identified. This Partial Resistance was in some accessions only expressed in the adult plant stage. The controlling genes of the Lathyrus resistance mechanisms can be of great interest not only for the Lathyrus improvement per se but also for related legume species, like field pea.     

Wirkung mechanischer Belastung auf Gefüge und Ertragsleistung einer Löss‐Parabraunerde mit zwei Bearbeitungssystemen

Effect of mechanical stress on structure and productivity of a loess‐derived Luvisol with conventional and conservation tillage In Germany farmers are committed to caring for the land by a soil protection law. Yet vehicles with ever increasing axle load endanger productivity and environmental quality of arable soils. In spring of 1995 a field experiment was startet on a wet silty Luvisol to test the effect of single mechanical loading on soil and crop characteristics, when managed by mouldboard ploughing (PL) or conservation tillage (CT). CT soils are considered to be more resistant against compactive stresses and to recover from degeneration more rapidly than PL soils. Beside an unwheeled control the loading treatments were light (2 × 2.5 t; number of wheel passes times wheel load); medium (2 × 5 t) and high (6 × 5 t). In 1995 even light loading of the PL soil caused a significant yield decline by 50% in spring barley, but this happened on CT soil only with high loading. In subsequent years with winter wheat and winter barley yield decline was less distinct. Loading of PL soil reduced total root length (from 4 to 1 km m⁻²) and rooting depth (from 70—90 to 40—70 cm), but on CT soil only root length was diminished by high loading. A tillage‐traffic pan (30—35 cm) hindered subsoil rooting in PL, which was favored in CT by earthworm channels. High loading caused compaction to at least 50 cm depth. Within the pan of the PL soil, penetration resistance attained 5 MPa and bulk density 1.65 g cm⁻³. In the CT soil the zone of maximum compaction was closer to the surface (15—25 cm). In PL soil the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the O₂‐diffusion coefficient gradually decreased with loading, but in CT soil only with heavy loading. The compacted top soil was broken in subsequent years by ploughing (PL: 25 cm) or rotary implements (CT: 5—8 cm). With PL, structure in the pan layer and subsoil did not recover, and rooting depth was still limited. Some restoration, however, was indicated with CT. Here transmitting properties increased in time, which was attributed to the reconstruction of root and earthworm channels, as demonstrated by computer tomography. We conclude that in silty soils compacted layers below ploughing depth will hardly be regenerated by internal processes. CT soils are less susceptible to loading, but high stresses are harmful too. Therefore recommending CT as a measure for protecting soil from compaction would not be enough, considering the present development towards heavy field machinery.