The effect of soil compaction on sugar cane yield in Barbados
1991
de Boer, H.G. (Barbados Sugar Industry, Bridgetown (Barbados). Agronomy Research Unit)
In order to quantify the effect of soil compaction on sugar cane yield, both the expected positive effect of mechanically loosening the inter-row spaces in ratoon cane, and the difference in yield following hand cutting and mechanical harvest was measured. In addition, a recording penetrometer was used for establishing the presence of possible compaction layers in the soil. The negative effect of soil compaction by harvest equipment and the positive effect of mechanical soil loosening were not as large as expected. This is probably due to the fact that the montmorillonite clays found in Barbados have a tendency to be "self cultivating" due to swelling and shrinking in alternately wet and dry periods following harvest. Some practical hints of easily adopted measures to further reduce the effect of soil compaction on yield are also given.
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