Effect of Ten Successive Rollings on Soil Physical Properties and Yield of Groundnut (var. TMV 3) in a Very Permeable Sandy Soil in Southern India

Trial in a farmer's holding, which was sandy containing 80-90 per cent of fine and coarse sand fraction, was conducted to evaluate the effect of ten successive rollings by 400 kg stone roller (1 meter width) on the soil physical properties and yield of groundnut (var. TMV 3). By rolling, the bulk density was increased from 1.50 g/cc to 1.63 g/cc in the 20-30 cm layer; Hydraulic conductivity was reduced from 36.7 cm/h to 17.3 cm/ h in the same subsoil layer (53 per cent over control) which resulted in higher moisture retension capacity of the soil, the increase being 51.5 per cent over control in the 30-40 cm layer. The final dry pod yield increase was 19 per cent over control. The effect of compaction was seen at the post-harvest soils also, in that the increase in bulk density, decrease in hydraulic conductivity were observed. The variations were more effective at 10-20 cm laver.