Geostatistical Approach to Determine the Effects of Different Soil Tillage Methods on Penetration Resistance in a Clayey Soil

Abstract

In this study carried out in 2011 and 2012, the effects of four different tillage practices [plow + disc harrow + rotary tiller + direct seeding machine (TP<inf>1</inf>), chisel + disc harrow + rotary tiller + direct seeding machine (TP<inf>2</inf>), plow + rotary tiller + direct seeding machine (TP<inf>3</inf>), direct drilling (TP<inf>4</inf>)] and control plot without planting (TP<inf>5</inf>) on the soil bulk density (BD), moisture content and penetration resistance of a clayey textured soil were evaluated in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey with a geostatistical approach. The values of soil compaction indicators were significantly greater under the TP<inf>4</inf> treatment than in the case of TP<inf>1</inf> and TP<inf>2</inf> after harvest, especially at 20-40 cm depth in 2011 and 2012. Overall, our results suggest the avoidance of direct seeding practices in high clay content soils.