ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of Soil Compaction on Root System
Morphology and Productivity of Alfalfa
(Medicago sativa L.)
Tomasz Głąb
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Institute of Machinery Exploitation, Ergonomics and Production Processes, University of Agriculture in Krakow,
Balicka 116B, 31-149 Kraków, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(6):1473-1480
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Soil compaction connected with tractor traffic leads to changes in roots morphology and decreased plant
yields of both annual and perennial forage plants. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of soil compaction
on alfalfa herbage production and root growth. A pot experiment with different levels of soil compaction
was conducted in 2007-09. Plant yield and root morphology such as root length density (RLD), mean
root diameter (MD), specific root length (SRL), and root dry matter (RDM) were determined.
Root dry matter distribution in uncompacted soil was uniform in the investigated soil layers. In compacted
soil the main root matter was located in the upper soil layer. Generally, roots were also much longer in
the upper soil layer (0-10 cm) than below 10 cm. The value of RLD decreased in treatments with a higher
degree of compaction. It was observed that roots in more compacted soil were thinner than in uncompacted.
Based on the results in herbage production, the reaction of plant yield to soil compaction can be described as
positive. In the first year of the experiment (2007), soil compaction caused a significant decrease in plant yield.
However, in 2008 and 2009 the opposite effect was noticed when yields were significantly higher in strongly
compacted soil than in less compacted.