Ripping of irrigated Solonetzic soil to increase water penetration and crop yield

Non-Peer Reviewe

Field monitoring and economic assessment of deep ripping in Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe

Ripping of irrigated Solonetzic soil to increase water penetration and crop yield

Non-Peer Reviewe

The effect of deep ripping on soil physical properties and crop production: 1991 results

Non-Peer Reviewe

Deep ripping in Saskatchewan – results from 12 sites

Non-Peer Reviewe

The determination of soil moisture content and field bulk density using neutron and gamma probes

Non-Peer Reviewe

Modulus of rupture test for determining soil strength of surface soils

Non-Peer Reviewe

Deep tillage of Solonetzic and non-Solonetzic soils in Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe effect of deep tillage on soil conditions and crop growth was studied over a 5-year period, involving 15 farm sites, 4 soil zones, and both Solonetzic and Chemozemic soils, as well as Solonetzic/Chemozemic intergrades. Deep ripping reduced soil bulk density for up to 2.5 years for Solonetzic soils and for up to 1.5 years for non-Solonetzic soils. Soil loosening by para-plowing was much less dramatic than that of deep ripping and involved only one site (Solonetzic soil), where the effect lasted only up to 1 year. Deep ripping of Solonetzic soils increased soil water recharge for up to three years following the deep tillage operation. Increased soil-water recharge in the para-plowed plots was found only in the first year. Crop emergence on some of the Solonetzic soils was decreased in the first year on the deep ripped plots due to poor seedbed conditions. Deep ripping increased crop production on Solonetzic soils by up to 4 years, and on Solonetzic/Chemozemic soils by up to 3 years, but had no effect on crop production on Chemozemic soils. Para-plowing also increased crop production on both the Solonetzic soils and on the Solonetzic/Chemozemic intergrades; however the effect was much less dramatic than that of deep ripping and lasted only up to 2 years. The increased crop production was the result of greater spring soil NO3-N levels and greater crop water-use efficiency. Deep ripping and para-plowing reduced soil sodicity and salinity under irrigated conditions, but not under dry-land conditions

The effect of deep-ripping and para-plowing on crop production in Saskatchewan – an update

Non-Peer ReviewedThe feasibility of deep ripping and para-plowing in terms of improving crop production was investigated over a three-year period. A total of 15 sites from different soil zones were included in the study involving soils varying in texture and in Solonetzic characteristics. In the spring of 1988, the soils tended to be less dense in the 25-40 cm depth in the deep ripped and in the para-plowed plots. The difference in density between the para-plowed and the control plots was less dramatic than the difference between the deep ripped and the control plots. Both deep-ripping and para-plowing increased soil water recharge for up to two years following the deep tillage operation. Soil NO3-N levels in the spring of 1988 were significantly higher in the ripped and in the para-plowed plots compared to the control plots. Crop emergence at some sites was decreased in the tillage plots, due to poor seedbed conditions. Deep-ripping resulted in significant yield increases on 4 of the 6 Solonetzic soils and on one of the four mixed Solonetzic/Chemozemic soils. There were no significant yield increases due to deep ripping on five non-Solonetzic soils. Para-plowing significantly increased crop yield at only one of five sites. There was little effect of either deep tillage treatment on the percent protein in the crop. Deep-ripping increased crop water-use efficiency by an average of 22 %. Results from three years of data indicate that crop yield was significantly increased due to deep ripping or para-plowing on Solonetzic soils. Increases were more dramatic following deep ripping than following para-plowing. The yield increases lasted at least two years following the deep tillage operations, and at two sites the yield increases lasted into the third year. Deep-ripping and para-plowing increased yields on only one of the four mixed Solonetzic/Chemozemic soils, and in none of the five non-Solonetzic soils

The effect of subsoiling on crop production in Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe