A rapid, inexpensive and quantitative procedure for assessing soil structure with respect to cropping |
| |
| Authors: | A.J. Koppi J.T. Douglas |
| |
| Affiliation: | Soil Science, School of Crop and Soil Science, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. (Work done while visiting worker at the address below.);Scottish Centre of Agricultural Engineering, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EI126 0PII, Scotland. |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract. The essential factors dependent on soil structure that influence plant growth are soil/root contact, adequate air and water, and low mechanical impedance. Bulk density, shear strength and texture arc interrelated closely and permit quantification of these factors. A general relationship between clay content and vane shear strength of soil at field capacity and non-limiting bulk density provides a rapid means of quantitatively estimating structure. We propose a procedure utilizing vane shear strength and a tactile assessment of clay content as criteria for judging soil structure in the field. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
