Effects of Root Type on Soil Compaction and Infiltration

Authors: Grace Jennings, Andrew Gascho-Landis, Jess Furlong

SUNY Campus: SUNY Cobleskill

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 30

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: Soil compaction adversely affects infiltration rates. This results in ponding or runoff which in turn limits water available for plant growth. Currently, compaction is mitigated by tillage of soil with heavy machinery. However, tilling is a short-term solution that disrupts soil structure which results in the creation of hard-pans and reduces soil fertility. The purpose of this study was to determine if cover crops could address soil compaction and eliminate the need for tillage. We aimed to compare whether plants with tap roots or fibrous roots could reduce compaction and increase steady state infiltration rates. To test this hypothesis, we compacted soil in pots by applying 121 lbs. of weight with a modified wooden plank. Three treatments were used: Forage radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus), winter rye (Secale cereale), and unplanted compacted soil. Data collection and analysis were performed after six weeks of growth. Forage radish was our tap root treatment, winter rye was our fibrous root treatment. We found there was no significant difference in infiltration rates based on the presence or type of plant roots in compacted soil. Based on these findings, we recommend revising this experiment with more compaction-resilient plants, larger sample sizes, and a longer period for growth, to further explore the potential of cover-crops in no-till systems.