Physico-mechanical properties and yield of silage corn as affected by soil compaction and tillage methods

Experimental investigations were conducted over three years to test the hypothesis that soil compaction affects the physical and mechanical properties of corn ears and corn cobs. Field experiments were made on sub-drained clay and sandy loam soils at Macdonald College Farm in Quebec Province of Canada. The mechanical properties of corn ears and corn cobs were determined from quasi-static force-deformation analysis performed with a universal Instron testing machine.

The results showed that soil compaction treatments did not significantly influence corn cob elastic modulus and strength in simple bending nor in radial compression. Cob moisture content did not significantly change as a result of the application of various traffic treatments. However, corn cob diameter and pith diameter were both significantly affected by soil compaction.

Corn ear moisture content and bending strength were not significantly affected by soil compaction. However, corn ear yield in all three years was found to be dependent on the amount of soil compaction applied.

Also studied were the effects of various tillage methods in ameliorating the deleterious effects of soil compaction on crop yield and crop quality. It is concluded that a judicious choice of tillage machinery system can minimize the reductions in ear yield due to soil compaction.