Effects of Two Planting Systems on Soil Structure and Root Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.)

In 1994 two planting systems of maize—rotary hoe-sowing (RS) and plough (2 diskings) sowing (PDS)—were compared in the field with respect to their influence on the root growth of maize and on selected physical properties. Roots were sampled at the five-leaf stage (S:5) and the milk stage of the maize seeds (S:MS).
Generally, in the PDS planting system the roots were richer compared to the RS. At the S:5 stage the correlation coefficient between the physical properties and the toot system was considerably higher, while at the S:MS stage the corresponding correlation coefficient was much lower.
In the RS planting system, at 15 cm and 30 cm distances from the sowing rows, far fewer roots were observed than in the PDS one.