EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION ON SOIL WATER RETENTION AND WATER USE BY CEREALS IN CLAY SOILS

Summary The effects are repotted of direct drilling and mouldboard ploughing on soil water retention and extraction in three soils over two to four years. In the years 1972–75 when winter rainfall was close to or greater than the long-term average the maximum soil water content of the upper 100 cm differed little between the cultivation treatments. In contrast, after the dry winter of 1975–76, about 10 per cent more water was stored in the direct-drilled soil, especially below 50 cm. In the following dry summer, winter wheat extracted up to 22 mm more water from uncultivated soil and this was associated with better growth of the crop than after ploughing. When simulated rain was applied, water infiltrated rapidly to a depth of 50–100 cm in direct-drilled soil, whereas on ploughed land its movement was retarded below the plough sole even when cultivation had been carried out under conditions which minimized smearing. Water storage at depth was consequently greater under dry conditions in the direct-drilled soil while excess water reached drain depth more rapidly in wet conditions.