Chickpea emergence responses to compaction by 2-wheel tractor in two soils of Northwest Bangladesh

Field traffic has many beneficial effects of labour saving and timeliness, but little thought has been given to the potential deleterious consequences of soil compaction. The process of soil compaction reduces total porosity and increases bulk density, resulting in changes in soil physical properties. Excessive compaction in the seedbed may impede seedling emergence. Although greater soil compaction by heavier vehicle traffic has been reported worldwide, a lighter vehicle can cause soil compaction when used repeatedly. The spatial variability of soil physical properties from light farm machinery traffic with minimum tillage and or controlled traffic compared to conventional tillage are unknown. Hence, the objectives of the current study were: (i) to identify changes in soil physical properties as influenced by compaction during controlled traffic minimum tillage by a 2-wheel tractor and (ii) to determine the effect of soil physical properties on chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seedling emergence.