Long-term impacts of repeated cover cropping and cultivation approaches on subsoil physical properties

The intensification of arable agriculture has resulted in an increase vehicle wheel load and the intensity field operations, which increased risk incidence degradation physical properties uncultivated subsoil layer. Biopores generated by long-term, repeated use specific cover crops within rotation been suggested as approach to improve properties. Therefore, this paper aimed determine impact long-term cropping interaction treatments with different cultivation approaches on Data was collected at NIAB ‘Sustainable Trial for Arable Rotations’ experiment established 2006. Rotation comprised a brassica crop alternated annually winter wheat (ALTCC) compared continuous (CWW). Cultivation PLOUGH (250 mm depth), non-inversion 250 (DEEP) 100 (SHALLOW) depths. Penetration resistance volumetric soil moisture were bi-monthly intervals during 2018/19 growing season. Undisturbed cores laboratory analyses water retention, stable aggregates, root morphology digital scanning biomass, X-ray computed tomography (CT). Results showed that treatment ALTCC combined SHALLOW, lower penetration subsoil. This persisted later into season control. SHALLOW improved porosity. Benefits from not observed where higher intensity, deeper cultivation. Overall, combination produced significant benefits