Irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is as-sociated with frequent cycling between anaero-bic and aerobic conditions, which can lead to a greater rate of soil organic matter (SOM) de-composition, thus potentially increasing soil bulk density (BD) over time. A study was con-ducted in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas, USA to evaluate the long-term effects of rice-based crop rotations, tillage [conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)], soil fertility regime (optimal and sub-optimal), and soil depth (0-10 and 10-20 cm) after 10 years of consistent management on near-surface soil compaction, as measured by BD. Soil BD was greater under NT than CT in the top 10 cm, but was similar between NT and CT in the 10- to 20-cm depth interval. Soil BD differed among common rice-based cropping systems with corn, soybean, and winter wheat, but few consistent trends were evident. It appears that, even after 10 years of continuous CT or NT rice production on a silt-loam soil, substantially increased near-surface soil BD has not occurred to the point where soil compaction would be a likely culprit responsible for a reduced early season stand establishment or crop yield differences among rice-based copping systems.
Karlen, D.L., Andrews, S.S., Wienhold, B.J. and Zobeck, T.M. (2008) Soil quality assessment: Past, present, and future. Jour-nal of Integrated Biosciences, 6, 3-14.
Pulleman, M.M., Bouma, J., van Essen, E.A. and Meijles, E.W. (2000) Soil or-ganic matter content as a function of different land use history. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64, 689-693.
Karlen, D.L., Mausbach, M.J., Doran, J.W., Cline, R.G. Harris, R.F, and Schuman, G.E. (1997) Soil quality: A concept, definition, and framework for evaluation. Soil Sci-ence Society of America Journal, 61, 4-10.
Wolf, B. and Snyder, G.H. (2003) Sustainable soils: The place of organic matter in sustainable soils and their productivity. Food Prod-ucts Press, New York.
Carter, M.C., Dean, T.J., Wang, Z. and Newbold, R.A. (2006) Impacts of harvesting and post har-vesting treatments on soil bulk density, soil strength, and early growth of Pinus taeda in the Gulf Coastal Plain: A long-term soil productivity affiliated study. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 36, 601-614.
Diana, G., Beni, C. and Marconi, S. (2008) Organic and mineral fertilization: Effects on physical characteristics and boron dynamic in an agricultural soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 39, 1332-1351.
Elliot, W.J., Page-Dumroese, D.S., and Ro-bichaud, P.R. (1998) The effect of forest management on ero-sion and soil productivity. In: Lal, R., Ed., Soil quality and erosion. St. Lucie Press, Boca Raton, FL, 195-209.
Page-Dumroese, D.S., Jurgensen, M.F., Tiarks, A.E., Ponder, Jr., F., Sanchez, F.G., Fleming, R.L., Kranabetter, J.M., Powers, R.F., Stone, D.M., Elioff, J.D., and Scott, D.A. (2006) Soil physical property changes at the North American long-term soil productivity study sites: 1 and 5 years after compaction. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 36, 551-564.
Souch, C.A., Martin, P.J., Stephens, W., and Spoor, G. (2004) Effects of soil compaction and mechanical damage at harvest on growth and biomass production of short rotation coppice willow. Plant and Soil, 263, 173-182.
Amuri, N. and Brye, K.R. (2008) Residue management practice effects on soil penetration in a wheat-soybean double-crop production system. Soil Science, 173, 779-791.
Ehlers, W., K?pke, U., Hesse, F., and B?hm, W. (1983) Penetration resistance and root growth of oats in tilled and untilled loess soil. Soil and Tillage Research, 3, 261-275.
Hirth, J.R., McKenzie, B.M., and Tisdall, J.M.. (2005) Ability of seedling roots of Lolium perenne L. to penetrate soil from artificial biospores is modified by soil bulk density, biospore angle and biospore relief. Plant and Soil, 272, 327-336.
Krizek, D.T., Ritchie, J.C., Sadeghi, A.M., Foy, C.D., Rhoden, E.G., Davis, J.R., and Camp, M.J. (2003) A four-year study of biomass production of eastern gamagrass grown on an acid compact soil. Communications in Soil Sci-ence and Plant Analysis, 34, 457-480.
Lampurlanés, J. and Cantero-Martínez, C. (2003) Soil bulk density and pene-tration resistance under different tillage and crop management systems and their relationship with barley root growth. Agronomy Journal, 95, 526-536.
Son, Y., Yang, S.Y., Jun, Y.C., Kim, R.H., Lee, Y.Y., Hwang, J.O. and Kim, J.S. (2003) Soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics during conversion of agri-cultural lands to natural vegetation in central Korea. Commu-nications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 34, 1511-1527.
Karamanos, A.J., Bilalia, D., and Sidiras, N. (2004) Effects of reduced tillage and fertilization practices on soil characteristics, plant water status, growth and yield of upland cotton. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 190, 262-276.
Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. (2008) The nature and properties of soil, 14 ed. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Afyuni, M. and Wagger, M.G. (2006) Soil physical properties and bromide movement in relation to till-age system. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analy-sis, 37, 541-556.
Chan, K.Y. (2002) Bulk density. In: Encyclopedia of Soil Science, Lal, R. Ed., Marcel Dekker, New York, 128-130.
Mahboubi, A.A., Lal, R. and Fausey, N.R. (1993) Twenty-eight years of tillage effect on two soils in Ohio. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 57, 506-512.
Radcliffe, D.E., Toller, E.W., and Hargrove, W.L. (1988) Effect of tillage practice on infiltration and soil strength of a Typic Hapludult soil after ten years. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 52, 798-804.
Vervoort, R.W., Dabney, S.M., and Romkens, M.J.M. (2001) Tillage and row position effects on water and solute infiltration characteristics. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 65, 1227-1234.
Khan, A.R., Chandra, D., Quraishi, S. and Sinha, R.K. (2000) Soil aeration under different soil surface conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 185, 105-112.
Girma, K., Martin, K.L., Anderson, R.H., Arnall, D.B., Brixey, K.D., Casillas, M.A., Chung, B., Dobey, B.C., Kamenidou, S.K., Kariuki, S.K., Katsalirou, E.E., Morris, J.C., Moss, J.Q., Rohla, C.T., Sudbury, B.J., Tubana, B.S. and Raun, W.R. (2006) Mid-season prediction of wheat-grain yield poten-tial using plant, soil, and sensor measurements. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 29, 873-897.
Townshend, J.L. and Web-ber, L.R. (1971) Movement of Pratylenchus penetrans and moisture characteristics of three Ontario soils. Nematologica, 17, 47-57.
Soyelu, L.O., Ajayi, S.A., Aluko, O.B, and Fakorede, A.B. (2001) Varietal differences in development of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings on compacted soils. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 186, 157-166.
Cassel, D.K., Raczkowski, C.W., and Denton, H.P. (1995) Tillage effects on corn production and soil physical properties. Soil Science So-ciety of America Journal, 59, 1436-1443.
Grevers, M.C.L. and Bomke, A.A. (1986) Tillage practices on a northern clay soil: Effect of sod breaking methods on crop production and soil physical properties. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 66, 385-395.
Lal, R., Mahboubi, A.A. and Fausey, N.R. (1994) Long-term tillage and rotation effects on soil properties of a central Ohio soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 58, 517-522.
[NeSmith, D.S., Radcliffe, D.E., Hargrove, W.L., Clark, R.L., and Toller, E.W.. 1987. Soil compaction in double-cropped wheat and soybean on an Ultisol. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 51,183-186.
Myers, J.L. and Wagger, M.G. (1996) Runoff and sediment loss from tillage systems under simulated rainfall. Soil and Tillage Research, 39, 115-129.
Wagger, M.G. and Denton, H.P. (1989) Influ-ence of cover crop and wheel traffic on soil physical properties in continuous no till corn. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 53, 1206-1210.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2009. Crop Explorer: United States – area, yield, and production. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/default_popwin.cfm? obj_name=util/new_get_psd_data.cfm®ionid=us
Wilson, C.E. Jr. and Runsick, S.K. (2008) Trends in rice production. In: B. R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2007, Norman, R., Meullenet, J.-F., and Moldenhauer, K.A.K., Eds., Res. Series 560, University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Fayetteville, AR, 11-20.
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) (2009) U.S. & all states data – crops: Planted, harvested, yield, production, price (MYA), value of production. http://www.nass.usda.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Quick_Stats/
Norman, R.J., Wilson, C.E. Jr., Slaton, N.A. (2003) Soil fertilization and mineral nutrition in U.S. mechanized rice cul-ture. In: Rice: Origin, history, technology, and production, Smith, C.W. and Dilday, R.H., Eds., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 331-411.
Lima, A.C.R., Hoogmoed, W.B., Pauletto, E.A. and Pinto, L.F.S. (2009) Management systems in irrigated rice affect physical and chemical properties. Soil and Tillage Research, 103, 92-97.
Salinas-Garcia, J.R., Hons, F.M. and Matocha, J.E. (1997) Long-term effects of tillage and fertilization on soil organic matter dynamics. Soil Science So-ciety of America Journal, 61, 152-159.
Xu, Y., Chen, W. and Shen, Q. (2007) Soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools impacted by long-term tillage and fertilization practices. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 38, 347-357.
National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2008. Web soil survey. Data from survey from No-vember 12, 2008. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSUrvey.aspx
Brye, K.R., Slaton, N.A., Savin, M.C., Norman, R.J. and Miller, D.M. (2003) Short-term effects of land leveling on soil physical properties and microbial biomass. Soil Science Soci-ety of America Journal, 67, 1405-1417.
Southern Region Climate Center (SRCC). 2009. Temperature (F) and precipita-tion (in) normals (1971-2000): Stuttgart 9 ESE. Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA. http://www.srcc.lsu.edu/stations/index.php?action=meta&network_station_id=030240
Schmid, B.T. (2008) Conserva-tion tillage effects on soil physical and chemical properties in rice production in the Arkansas delta. M.S. thesis, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Slaton, N.A. (2001) Rice pro-duction handbook. Handbook. MP 192. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock.
Ashlock, L. (2000) Arkansas soybean handbook. Handbook. MP 197. Uni-versity of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock.
Espinoza, L. and Ross, J. (2003) Corn production handbook. Handbook. MP 437. University of Arkansas Coop-erative Extension Service, Little Rock.
Johnson, W.F., Jr. (1999) Arkansas wheat production and management. Hand-book. MP 404. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock.
Harper, T.W., Brye, K.R., Daniel, T.C., Slaton, N.A. and Haggard, B.E. (2008) Land use effects on runoff and water quality on an eastern Arkansas soil under simulated rainfall. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 32, 231-253.
Hillel, D. (2004) Introduction to soil physics. Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego.
Gangwar, K.S., Singh, K.K., Sharma, S.K. and Tomar, O.K. (2006) Alternative tillage and crop residue management in wheat after rice in sandy loam soils of Indo-Gangetic plains. Soil and Tillage Research, 88, 242-252.
Kar, G. and Kumar, A. (2009) Evaluation of post-rainy season crops with residual soil mois-ture and different tillage methods in rice fallow of eastern India. Agricultural Water Management, 96, 931-938.