Abstract
Laboratory and field experiments were carried out to quantify the effects of the size and roughness of aggregates placed in the seedling path of sugar beet, in order to help in decision making for soil tillage and sowing operations. Graded aggregates (10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mm longest axis) were either laid on the soil surface or included in the soil over the seeds. The percent emergence decreased exponentially with aggregate size over 10 mm when the aggregates were included in the seedbed. The result was the same with aggregates laid on the soil surface, but for aggregates over 30 mm (mass>10 g). Aggregates on the soil surface could be lifted by the seedlings until their weight exceeded the seedling emergence force. Larger aggregates or aggregates in the soil layer could not be moved. Seedlings which did not emerge remained blocked in small cavities in the aggregate surface. No seedlings were blocked under smooth aggregates or glass beads. The experimental results fits with a model giving the probability to meet a hole according the distance covered and the diameter and density of holes. The results obtained under controlled conditions were similar to those obtained in field experiments for a wide range of aggregate sizes. These results will be incorporated into a computerised seedbed generator to simulate the effects of seedbed structure on seedling emergence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aubertot J N, Dürr C and Richard G 1999 Characterization of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedbed structure. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 63, 1377–1384.
Boiffin J 1986 Stages and time-dependency of soil crusting in situ. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Assessment of Soil Surface Sealing and Crusting. Eds F Callebaut, D Gabriels and M de Boodt. pp 91–98. Ghent, Belgium.
Boiffin J, Dubrulle P, Dürr C and Richard G 1994 Modelling sugar beet seedling emergence and early growth. In Proceedings of the 13th ISTRO Conference. Eds HE Jensen, P Schjnning, SA Mikkelsen and KB Madsen. pp 1143–1148. Aalborg, Denmark.
Bouaziz A 1987 Implantation d'un peuplement de blé tendre en conditions sèches. Analyse physique et modélisation. PhD thesis, Institut agronomique et vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Maroc. 100 p.
Bouaziz A, Souty N and Hicks D 1990 Emergence force exerted by wheat seedlings. Soil Tillage Res. 17, 211–219.
Braunack M V 1995 Effect of aggregate size and soil water content on emergence of soybean (Glycine max. L.Merr.) andmaize (Zea mays. L.). Soil Tillage Res. 33, 149–161.
Braunack M V and Dexter A R 1989 Soil aggregation in the seedbed: a review. II Effect of aggregate sizes on plant growth. Soil Tillage Res. 14, 281–298.
Bruckler L 1983 Rôle des propriétés physiques du lit de semences sur l'imbibition et la germination. I. Elaboration d'un modèle du système ‘terre-graine’. Agronomie 3, 213–222.
Dexter A R 1985 Shapes of aggregates from tilled layers of some dutch and australian soils. Geoderma 35, 91–107.
Dexter A R 1986 Model experiments on the behaviour of roots at the interface between a tiller seed-bed and a compacted sub-soil. Plant Soil 95, 149–161.
Dürr C and Boiffin J 1995 Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) seedling growth from germination to first leaf stage. J. agric. Sci., Cambridge 124, 427–435.
Duval Y and Boiffin J 1994 A daily emergence disturbance index for sugar beet based on soil crusting. In Proceedings of the 13th ISTRO Conference. Eds HE Jensen, P Schjnning, SA Mikkelsen and KB Madsen. pp 633–638. Aalborg, Denmark.
Richard G, Boizard H and Guérif J 1997 Soil compaction and fragmentation at seed bed preparation as a function of soil moisture and tyre inflation pressure in loess and chalky soils. In Proceedings of the 14th ISTRO Conference. Ed. M Fotyma. pp 563–566. Pulawy, Poland.
Saglio P and Pradet A 1980 Soluble sugars, respiration and energy charge during aging of excised maize root tips. Plant Physiol. 66, 516–519.
Schneider E C and Gupta S C 1985 Corn emergence as influenced by soil temperature, matric potential and aggregate size distribution. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 49, 415–422.
Souty N and Rode C 1993 Emergence of sugar beet seedlings from under different obstacles. Eur. J. Agron. 2, 213–221.
Souty N and Rode C 1994 Caractérisation des plantules de betterave sucrière et modélisation de l'émergence. In L'implantation de la Betterave Industrielle Eds J Boiffin and E. Choppin de Janvry. pp 39–54. Les colloques de l'INRA Number 67, Paris.
Sperlingsson C 1981 The influence of the seed bed soil physical environment on seedling growth and establishment. In Proceedings of the 44th IIRB Congress. Ed. IIRB. pp 59–77. Brussels, Belgium.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dürr, C., Aubertot, JN. Emergence of seedlings of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) as affected by the size, roughness and position of aggregates in the seedbed. Plant and Soil 219, 211–220 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004723901989
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004723901989