Das Penetrationsvermögen von Wurzeln unterschiedlicher Roggen- und Triticalegenotypen in Abhangigkeit von der Bodenlagerungsdichte

The penetration capability of different rye and triticale varieties in dependence on the soil bulk density By means of a laboratory test the primary roots of 9 rye and 4 triticale varieties were tested for their capability of penetrating overcompactions. The roots served as “natural probes” and as a mark of genotypic differences. The test was carried out in the stages 1.50, 1.65 and 1.80 g/cm³ of soil bulk density. The soil substrate (faint loamy sand) consisted of 5.4 % of clay, 13.8 % of silt, 80.8 % of sand and 0.6 % of total C_t. The tested corn roots respond to compacted soil structures with considerable differences in the rootability. These level differences are not only specific marks for species but also for varieties within the species. Though most of the tested corn varieties respond with restricted root growth in compacted soil, the results cause the expectation that single varieties have a good adaptability to overcompacted soil and can tolerate it better than other ones. At the specific bulk density limit of faint loamy sand (1.50 g/cm³) all tested varieties have an intensive root growth. The rootability of triticale varieties is clearly reduced at the bulk density of 1.65 g/cm³; the roots of rye varieties, however, grow without essential restrictions in this range. Against all expectations the root growth of single rye varieties is similarly intensive as in loose soil at the bulk density of 1.80 g/cm³. Other rye varieties respond very sensitively and with considerable restrictions in root growth in this range. Since a characteristic increase of roots' diameter is to be observed with increasing bulk density, no differences in the root dry matter, caused by bulk density, can be found out. The applied experimental method permits a first selection of plant varieties, which could be interesting in future in view of the mark “Penetration performanc” of primary roots.     

Varietal Differences in Development of Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedlings on Compacted Soils

Differences among open-pollinated tropical maize ( Zea mays L.) varieties in seedling development and establishment on compacted soils were studied. Soil dry density was used as an index of compaction. Three soil compaction levels and 12 traits associated with development and establishment of maize seedlings were investigated. A control (without compaction) was also included. Varietal differences were observed for most traits measured. Genetic differences for seedling development on compacted soil were detected. Varietal differences contributed about three times the contribution of compaction to total variability in the traits. Better seedling development and performance were obtained in moderately compacted soil than in the control. Shoot length, shoot dry weight and per cent dry matter in roots were good indicators of the tolerance of maize seedlings to compaction. A physiological strategy for maize seedling establishment on compacted soil was proposed. The implications of the results for seed testing were also highlighted. It was concluded that consideration should be given to the genotype of maize destined for use in ecologies prone to high soil densities. All varieties of maize grown in an agroecological zone could be screened to identify genotypes tolerant of higher soil densities. The seeds could then be multiplied and distributed to farmers.     

蚯蚓对铁的富集转移及对苹果根铁营养影响研究

田间试验在永年县曹庄果园和中国农业大学曲周实验站果园进行,试材为8年生红富士苹果树,在苹果根际用不同价态、不同浓度的铁处理玉米秸秆后接种蚯蚓.试验表明:蚯蚓对铁有很大的富集量,在20 000 mg/kg(试验所用最高浓度)二价铁和三价铁处理的秸秆中可以成活并把秸秆转化为蚯蚓粪,促进根系生长,提高根的质外体铁含量,蚯蚓对二价铁的适应性高于三价铁.蚯蚓可以将有机物料中的铁转移到果树根系内,5 000 mg/kg铁处理增加蚯蚓体内Fe~(2+)含量和根质外体铁含量效果最好,蚯蚓、蚯蚓粪和根中的全铁含量随铁处理浓度的增加而增加.铁显著促进果树根系生长,没有用铁处理秸秆接种蚯蚓的新根量明显少于用铁处理的,两种不同价态的铁都是以5 000 mg/kg的新根量最多.蚯蚓显著促进根系生长,没有接种蚯蚓的处理新根量显著少于接种蚯蚓的处理.     

Interspecific Differences in Tolerance to Soil Compaction,Drought and Waterlogging Stresses among Maize and Triticale Genotypes

Stress susceptibility indexes (SSI) of eight maize and eight triticale genotypes for their ability to cope with soil compaction (SC) combined with drought (D) or waterlogging (W) were estimated through the determination of changes in dry matter of the shoot (S), root (R) and whole plant (S+R) grown at three levels of soil compaction (1.1, 1.3 and 1.6 g cm^?3) and exposed to D or W stress for 7 or 14 days. The SSI values showed variation between and within maize and triticale genotypes, and it was possible to divide genotypes into groups of sensitive and resistant ones. The correlation coefficients (r) between stress susceptibility indexes of soil compaction (SCSI) and drought (DSI) or waterlogging (WSI) and between DSI and WSI were statistically significant. This indicates that genotypes resistant to soil compaction (SC) were resistant to drought (D) or waterlogging (W) stresses and that genotypes resistant to D were also resistant to W. Seedlings grown under the stresses showed changes in S to R ratio (S/R). Sensitive genotypes had higher S/R ratio than resistant ones. Decrease of S/R ratio depends on the duration of stresses, and it may be considered an adaptation mechanism to stress. After 7 days of recovery for D and W treatments, we observed only a partial return of growth traits to the level of control plants.     

Experimental Study on the Compressive Property of Luojiashan Clay

This paper carried out an experimental study on the compressive property of Luojiashan Clay at Wuhan University. In order to investigate the influence of compaction degree, compaction water content and saturation state of compacted soil on the compressive property of clayey fill, compression tests were done on the samples compacted to different water content around optimum moisture content by different degrees of compaction. The theory of compacted soil structure was used to explain mechanism of the influence, and it was the change of soil structure that caused the variation of compresSive property. The results of the tests show that it was at agiven range of stress that degree of compaction and compaction water content have influence on the compressive prop- erty of clayey fill. Around optimum moisture content with degree of compaction decreasing or compaction water content increasing, the compressive deformation of clayey fill increased. When compacted fill was saturated by water soaking, the compressive deformation increased much, and the clayey fill compacted at greater water con- tent than optimum moisture content showed smaller compressive deformation caused by saturation at other conditions the same.     

Characterizing bulk density and hydraulic conductivity changes in a potato cropped field

Soil samples were taken at two depths from a potato field during the months of May and July of 1990 to determine the variation of bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity with time, depth and machinery traffic. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured with the falling head permeameter. In general, conductivity decreased with depth, whereas bulk density increased with depth. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (k_sat) at the surface decreased from 6.6 cm/h in May for untracked soil to 0.6 cm/h in wheel tracks in July, while bulk density increased from 1.31 to 1.51 g/cm³. At 20–30 cm depth, k_sat decreased from 3.6 to 1.2 cm/h during the same time period, while bulk density increased from 1.44 to 1.71 g/cm³. In some instances, higher values of k_sat were observed at lower depths. This could be due to compaction and weakening of soil structure in the upper 10 cm soil layer.     

Using a computed tomography miniscanner for studying tillage induced soil compaction

Gamma-ray computed tomography (CT) is used to study thin compacted soil layers, such as millimeter thick “blades” that occur at plowing depth. The technique has the advantage, over the traditional gamma-ray attenuation techniques, of opening the possibility of measuring water contents and bulk-densities of odd-shaped samples. Being a 2-or 3-dimensional technique it is possible to detect small change of bulk-density and soil water content within the sample, even in thin layers of the order of millimeters. Results are reported for thin compacted layers in soil samples collected at the plowing depth from sugar-cane fields in Brazil, which clearly demonstrate the usefulness of this new method for compaction investigations and its quantitative evaluation.     

Effect of Compaction and Tillage on the Yield and Percolation Loss of Rice in Lateritic Sandy Loam Soil

There is a large area of acid lateritic soils (Acrorthox) around Kharagpur in the state of West Bengal, India, where the top thin layer of soil mostly of detrital material, is underlain by a deep and highly porous lateritic crust (burried). Management of these soils poses a problem for their exceedingly high permeable nature. With the objective of increasing the production of rice in lateritic tract by way of reducing deep percolation, artificially compaction with the help of roller (800 kg) at the surface and subsurface levels were introduced under field conditions. Results indicate that the 6 passes of roller reduced the percolation by more than 3 folds over control. The increase in percolation rate with tillage depth was associated with the change in pore geometry obtained by tillage. The percentage increase in grain yield over the control was about 37 per cent at 4 passes of compaction, the increase was attributed to the reduction of deep percolation losses. The decrease in yield at high level (6 passes) compaction may be attributed to increased mechanical impedence and reduced condition (low Eh) in the compacted soil. Yield of rice has increased significantly with tillage depths at high level (6 passes) compaction probably due to increased root penetration.     

条带深松对不同密度玉米群体根系空间分布的调节效应

为探究条带深松耕作(SS)对密植玉米群体根系空间分布与容纳量的调节效应,本试验设置3个种植密度(低密：4.50万株 hm^-2、中密：6.75万株 hm^-2、高密：9.00万株 hm^-2),以土壤免耕(NT)为对照,利用小立方原位根土取样器,通过“3D monolith”根系空间取样方法,比较研究玉米个体与群体根系的空间分布对种植密度与土壤耕作方式的响应。结果表明,单株根长受种植密度影响显著,在0~50 cm土层中(每10 cm为一土层),高密种植的单株根长较低密种植减少110.31、43.18、15.73、10.49和17.45 m;在高密种植条件下,与土壤免耕比,条带深松耕作增加20~30 cm、30~40 cm、40~50 cm土层中的单株根长13.32%、19.80%、47.20%;单株根干重与单株根长的变化一致。种植密度对群体总根长的影响不显著,却显著影响群体根系的空间分布。与低密种植比,高密种植的植株中心根长密度在0~10 cm、10~20 cm土层中分别降低3.82 cm cm^-3、0.62 cm cm^-3,但植株之间的根长密度在0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm、30~40 cm土层中分别增加1.13 cm cm^-3、0.18 cm cm^-3、0.06 cm cm^-3、0.05 cm cm^-3;在高密种植条件下对土壤进行条带深松耕作,与土壤免耕比,植株中心的根长密度在0~10 cm土层中降低16.10%,在10~20 cm、20~30 cm土层中却分别增加47.45%和13.37%,植株之间的根长密度在20~30 cm、30~40 cm、40~50 cm土层中分别增加50.26%、30.72%和106.15%;条带深松耕作显著提高密植玉米群体下层根系的容纳量。高密条件下条带深松耕作增加了群体根干重、深层根系量、植株间根系分布及根表面积,进而增加了地上部群体叶面积指数及地上部干重,最终促进产量显著提高。说明密植群体通过条带深松耕作改善了群体的根系空间分布,减弱了上层根系的拥挤,通过增加深层土壤根系量及植株之间根系量增加了群体根系容纳量,发挥了密植群体根系功能,实现了密植群体的高产。     

尾巨桉幼苗根系分布及生物量特征研究

为了探讨不同肥料种类、施肥量对尾巨桉1年生幼苗根系生长的影响,为桉树生态经营提供科学依据,采用4因素3水平进行正交试验,4因素为氮肥、磷肥、钾肥和桉树专用肥,3水平为磷肥2 g、6 g、12 g,氮肥、钾肥和桉树专用肥为1 g、3 g和6 g。对尾巨桉根系采取全根挖掘法,测定根系垂直分布和水平分布范围,称其鲜质量,进行生物量测定,统计分析数据。结果表明：（1）对尾巨桉根系垂直分布范围影响最大的为磷肥,其他3种肥料对其分布的影响差异不显著,远小于磷肥的影响。各种施肥根系的垂直分布为32~57 cm;（2）对尾巨桉根系水平分布范围最大的为桉树专用肥。根系水平分布为57~86 cm;（3）对尾巨桉根尖数量影响最大的为氮肥,是最主要因素,其他3种影响相差不大。根尖数量为47~71个;（4）对尾巨桉根系1级侧根的根长影响最大的为桉树专用肥,是最主要因素。根系1级侧根的根长范围15.2~30.5 cm;（5）根系直径在0~2.0 mm、2.1~5.0 mm、5.1~10.0 mm及大于10.1 mm的根系生物量分别为0.879~2.718 g、2.141~3.663 g、0.841~7.268 g和5.179~17.628 g,呈现出随根系直径增加而递增的趋势;（6）不同施肥处理根系总生物量达14.739~29.336 g。施磷肥对尾巨桉根系总生物量的影响最显著。     

Variation in root hairs of barley cultivars doubled soil phosphorus uptake

Length and density (number mm^-1 root) of root hairs of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars Salka and Zita and their capability to absorb phosphorus (P) from nutrient solution as well as from rhizosphere soil were studied. The cultivars were chosen because they differed most among 30 cultivars in ability to absorb P from low P soil in two field conditions. In nutrient solution culture, Salka had 32±4 root hairs mm^-1 root, 1.02±0.22 mm long. Zita had 21±3 hairs mm^-1 root, 0.54±0.14 mm long. In soil, the root hairs of both the cultivars were slightly longer (Salka 1.10 ±0.16 mm; Zita 0.63±0.18 mm) than in solution culture but the difference was non-significant (p<0.05). The root hairs increased the effective root surface area of Salka by 206% and that of Zita by 81%. In solution culture, Salka produced 163±9 m g^-1 and Zita 153±11 m g^-1 dry roots in 21 days. Salka produced 1.65±0.22 g and Zita 1.51±0.31 g of green dry matter (DM). The cultivars did not differ in uptake of P from nutrient solution culture. The P content of DM was 0.42±0.1% in Salka and 0.41±0.08% in Zita. In soil, Salka depleted two times more P from rhizosphere than Zita. The longer root hairs of Salka increased the extension of the depletion zone for NaHCO₃-P_i (inorganic P extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO₃) in the rhizosphere. The cultivars also depleted NaOH-Pi (inorganic P extracted with 0.1 M NaOH) from the rhizosphere soil, but the difference between the cultivars was non-significant (p<0.05). The results suggested that the ability of Salka to absorb more inorganic soil P was due to its longer and denser root hairs. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

水氮耦合对土壤紧实度、土壤盐分和烤烟经济性状的影响

为探讨豫西烟区适宜的灌溉模式和氮肥用量,采用裂区试验,研究不同灌溉次数和不同施氮水平对烤烟干物质、土壤紧实度、土壤盐分和烤烟经济性状的影响。结果表明,灌溉和施氮均能明显提高烤烟干物质积累,在N1水平下,与不灌溉处理相比,灌溉处理干物质增加44.41~65.34g/株。烟田土壤紧实度整体上呈现先增加后降低的趋势,移栽后80天,施氮处理土壤紧实度均高于不施氮处理。在移栽后60、80天,与不灌溉处理相比,灌溉处理提高了土壤盐分。从产量上分析,不同施氮水平间以N2水平产量最高,达1706.3kg/hm²,不同灌溉水平间以W1水平产量最高,达1683.1kg/hm²;从产值上分析,以W1N1处理产值最高,达30665元/hm²。综合分析,在豫西烟区,最优的水肥模式为：旺长期灌溉1次、施氮量60kg/hm²,建议在生产中示范应用和推广。     

Variation in root penetration ability, osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance among accessions of rice adapted to rainfed lowland and upland ecosystems

Drought is the major constraint limiting rainfed rice production. The ability of rice roots to penetrate compacted soils and therefore to increase water extraction capacity, osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance of leaves enables the plant to tolerate drought. Experiments were conducted to determine the extent of genetic variation in root penetration index, osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance among indica accessions adapted to rainfed lowlands as well as traditional varieties from rainfed uplands. Root penetration index was evaluated in a system using wax–petrolatum layers to simulate soil compaction. Osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance were studied under slow development of water stress. Substantial genetic variation was found for root penetration index, osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance among indica ecotypes from lowlands, and the study of several traditional varieties from uplands showed variation in root penetration index and related root traits. An indica accession, IR58821‐23‐B‐1‐2‐1 had a high root penetration index of 0.38. The accessions, IR61079‐33‐1‐2‐2‐3, IR62266‐42‐6‐2 and IR63919‐38‐B‐1 had high osmotic adjustment capacities (1.91, 1.90 and 1.78 MPa, respectively); IR61079‐33‐1‐2‐2‐3 also had high dehydration tolerance. Good osmotic adjustment and dehydration tolerance were associated with poor root system. The traditional varieties ‘Kallurundaikar’ and ‘Norungan’ had higher root penetration indices (0.46 and 0.43, respectively), than even the japonica accessions. The study identified indica accessions and traditional varieties with superior root‐ and shoot‐related drought resistance traits that could be used in breeding for drought resistance in rice.     

Effect of Field Bean and Soybean Cultivation on Soil Compaction Amelioration and its Influence on Wheat and Barley as subsequent Crops

Effect of field bean and soybean cultivation on soil compaction amelioration and its influence on wheat and barley as subsequent crops
Amelioration effect of field bean and soybean growth on compacted soil and its influence on the following crops of wheat and barley was tested. The performance of both field bean and soybean was affected by compaction. A reduction of 5–16 % in total dry matter, 10–22 % in seed yield, 5–12 % in no. of pods per plant, 4–14 % in plant height, 8–19 % in total accumulated N in plant and 11–22 % in accumulated N in seed of the both crops was registered. The crops were grown at 30 and 60 plants/m² densities. The negative effects of compaction were compensated to some extent by high plant density. Both crops loosened the compacted field, the effect increased with an increase in plant density. Field beans decreased the soil bulk density up to 8 %, increased total porosity up to 8 % and air filled pores up to 19 % till 30 cm soil depth, the effects being higher than produced by soybeans.
The increases in yields of wheat and barley and in their accumulated N were 9–57 % and 11–56 %, respectively after field bean and soybean as preceeding crops than after barley.     

Short time effects of biological and inter-row subsoiling on yield of potatoes grown on a loamy sand,and on soil penetration resistance,root growth and nitrogen uptake

Soil compaction, especially subsoil compaction, in agricultural fields has increased due to widespread use of heavy machines and intensification of vehicular traffic. Subsoil compaction changes the relative distribution of roots between soil layers and may restrict root development to the upper part of the soil profile, limiting water and mineral availability. This study investigated the direct effects of inter-row subsoiling, biological subsoiling and a combination of these two methods on soil penetration resistance, root length density, nitrogen uptake and yield. In field experiments with potatoes in 2013 and 2014, inter-row subsoiling (subsoiler) and biological subsoiling (preceding crops) were studied as two potential methods to reduce soil penetration resistance. Inter-row subsoiling was carried out post planting and the preceding crops were established one year, or in one case two years, prior to planting. Soil resistance was determined with a penetrometer three weeks after the potatoes were planted and root length density was measured after soil core sampling 2 months after emergence. Nitrogen uptake was determined in haulm (at haulm killing) and tubers (at harvest). Inter-row subsoiling had the greatest effect on soil penetration resistance, whereas biological subsoiling showed no effects. Root length density (RDL) in the combined treatment was higher than in the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments and the control, whereas for the separate inter-row and biological subsoiling treatments, RLD was higher than in the control. Nitrogen uptake increased with inter-row subsoiling and was significantly higher than in the biological subsoiling and control treatments. However, in these experiments with a good supply of nutrients and water, no yield differences between any treatments were observed.     

Relations between pore-space and hydraulic properties in compacted beds of silty-loam aggregates

The aim of this study was to better understand features of the hydrodynamics of aggregated soil from experiments conducted on repacked soil samples. In the laboratory, aggregates 2 to 3 mm in diameter were prepared using a silty-loam material. These aggregates were wet to a water content close to their air-entry point value, and compacted to a predetermined bulk density. Two sets of samples were studied, with mean bulk density ranging between 1.0 and 1.6 Mg·m⁻³. Aggregates were extracted from samples of a first set, and their bulk density and water retention curve were determined. Water retention curve and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of samples of a second set were determined using an instantaneous profile method. Experimental results were interpreted with respect to a functional pore-space classification. The water retention properties of the aggregates extracted from the samples were different, although differences in porosity between such aggregates were sometime too small to be measured. This was explained by a narrowing in the constrictions of intra-aggregate pores induced by compaction, even when this compaction was small. Discontinuities in the shape of the hydraulic properties of a loosely-compacted bed of aggregates were found. This was consistent with an independent desaturation of the inter- and intra-aggregate pores. However, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the loosely-compacted sample was affected by a small amount of water, which formed menisci between the aggregates close to the air entry point value of the aggregates. Soil hydraulic conductivity increased with the degree of compaction for a range of massbased water contents dryer than the water content at the air-entry point value of the aggregates. The influence of the contact surface between the aggregates on the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the samples was quantified, by assuming that water flows only through the aggregates. These experimental results are related to aspects of soil hydrodynamics, which are difficult to study in situ and difficult to predict with the existing models for the soil hydraulic properties.     

黄土区土地整理压实土壤物理性状的初步研究

【研究目的】拟了解黄土丘陵土地整理区的土壤压实情况,从而制定相应的改良措施,促进土地资源的优化配置和有效利用。【研究方法】以闻喜县后宫乡的土地整理项目为研究对象,调查了压实地土壤的容重、紧实度、含水量以及渗水速率。【研究结果】结果表明：（1）与一般农田土壤相比,整理区土壤容重平均增高1.34倍、紧实度平均高484倍。（2）压实土壤的初始渗透速率为1.21mm/10min,稳渗速率为0.7 mm/10min,约相当于一般农田土壤的16%和28%。【研究结论】这些物理性状表明土地整理区内土壤压实程度非常严重,必须采取相应措施改良压实的土壤,迅速提高土地的生产力。     

土地整理区生物-理化改良技术研究综述

对土地整理区土壤的生物、物理、化学改良技术措施进行了回顾和展望,寻找存在的不足,探讨今后的研究方向。研究表明：（1）土地整理区的生物改良措施主要是施用蚯蚓和生物菌肥,通过两者的施用可以明显的改善土壤的理化性状;（2）土地整理区的物理改良措施主要是机械深松,主要用于解决土地整理区的土壤压实问题;（3）土地整理区的化学改良措施主要是化肥的施用,用于改善土壤肥力和土壤生物学性质。现有的土地整理区生物-理化改良措施可以比较明显的改善整理区土壤质量状况,但也存在着一些不足：（1）土地整理区生物-理化的联合改良技术应用较少;（2）深松联合作业机械的通用性较差,缺乏土地整理项目区标准化的深松设备和深松深度;（3）土地整理后短期内的土壤改良技术研究较少;（4）土地整理区生物-理化改良技术与整理施工结合不够紧密。以后的土地整理区生物-理化改良技术研究需在以上4个方面进行加强。     

The reduced height genes do not affect the root penetration ability in wheat

Root penetration (RP) ability into compacted soil is an important breeding target for drought avoidance by durum (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) in regions with compacted soils and water deficits. However, it is said generally that yield of the current cultivars introduced the reduced height gene (Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b) are more sensitive to drought stress than that of old landraces. This study investigated the effect of the Rht genes on RP ability using the seedlings of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of Rht genes of LD222 durum wheat and April Bearded bread wheat, and 110 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of durum wheat derived from the cross between the tall landrace (Jennah Khetifa; Rht-B1a Rht-B1a) and semi-dwarf cultivar (Cham1; Rht-B1b Rht-B1b). One seedling of each genotype was grown in a pot (6 cm diameter, 15 cm height) with a disc of 3 mm thickness made from paraffin and Vaseline mixture (PV) in 10 cm depth, as a substitute for a compacted soil layer. The RP index [number of roots penetrating through the PV disc per plant (PVRN)/total number of seminal and crown roots per plant (TRN)] was measured at eight weeks after sowing and used as the indicator of RP ability of seedling. In NILs, the shoot length decreased significantly because of the introduction of either Rht-B1b or Rht-D1b dwarfing genes, but the RP index was similar to those of tall parents. In RILs, although the RP index and shoot length were higher in Jennah Khetifa than in Cham1, the relationship between RP index and shoot length was not significant (r = 0.156). Both results indicate that RP ability of wheat does not link to dwarfness regulated by Rht genes. We suppose therefore that it would be possible to develop a high yielding semi-dwarf cultivar with excellent RP ability.     

Transport of Anion Towards Root as Influenced by Soil Compaction

This experiment was conducted in metal container of 2 liters capacity in the glass house to find out the effect of different bulk densities on the movement of non-adsorbed anion (Cl) towards the root. It is inferred from the study that at low moisture content, compaction to a certain degree can increase movement of nutrients to the root due to increase in moisture content per unit volume of soil, further increase in compaction may however affect nutrient availability to the roots. This has a far greater significance in No₃ movement. But from the salinity point of view, plant roots in soil containing salt will be exposed to a much higher salt concentration than that may be obtained from the analysis of the bulk soil.