THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MATTER AND TILLAGE ON MAXIMUM COMPACTABILITY OF SOILS USING THE PROCTOR TEST1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
With the practice of continuous no-tillage, the question arises of whether, after a period of time, some sort of mechanical tillage will be required to alleviate compaction. Studies of maximum compaction using the Proctor test on a total of 36 samples from four Kentucky soils revealed that compactability was negatively related to the amount of organic carbon in the sample. Because organic carbon tends to be higher to a depth of 10-cm where no-tillage has been practiced, the tendency is towards less compaction with increasing years of no-tillage to that depth. Continuous sod also showed higher organic matter and less compactability. Therefore, nondisturbed systems such as no-tillage and permanent sod form a defense against shallow compaction over time because of the increase in organic matter that occurs.