Root-restricting layers in German agricultural soils. Part II: Adaptation and melioration strategies

Aims In many agricultural soils in Germany, elongation of deep roots is restricted by compactness, anoxia and acidity. This study examined the adaptation and melioration strategies of farmers who cultivate sites with such root-restricting layers (RRLs). Methods The German Agricultural Soil Inventory...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2019-09, Vol.442 (1/2), p.419-432
Main Authors: Schneider, Florian, Don, Axel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidity
Adaptation
Aeration
Agricultural industry
Agricultural land
Agricultural practices
Agriculture
Anoxia
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Crop rotation
Cropping systems
Drainage
Drilling
Ecology
Elongation
Farmers
Geology
Grasslands
Land use
Life Sciences
Liming
pH effects
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
REGULAR ARTICLE
Rocks
Rooting
Soil aeration
Soil improvement
Soil Science & Conservation
Soils
Tillage
Wheat
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Summary:Aims In many agricultural soils in Germany, elongation of deep roots is restricted by compactness, anoxia and acidity. This study examined the adaptation and melioration strategies of farmers who cultivate sites with such root-restricting layers (RRLs). Methods The German Agricultural Soil Inventory was evaluated with respect to land use and crop rotations on sites with and without RRLs. The likelihoods of deep tillage, drainage and liming and the feasibility of biological melioration (bio-drilling) were predicted using soil, geology, climate and socioeconomic data. Results Anoxic and acidic sites were preferentially used as grassland. Cropland with RRLs was often dominated by maize instead of wheat. About 54% of agricultural land in Germany was limed, 45% drained, 6% deep chiselled and 5% deep ploughed. The abundance of biopores was positively related to silt content and pH, but negatively related to rock content. Conclusions Deep tillage is not very popular for alleviating soil compactness, but bio-drilling could be used to facilitate deeper rooting in loamy and well-aerated soils with low rock fragment contents and pH values >5. Waterlogged soils could be meliorated by improved drainage and extreme acidity by enhanced liming practices. However, many farmers preferred grassland use as opposed to meliorating RRLs.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-019-04186-8