High efficiency of machine harvesting can be obtained by reducing soil moisture and achieving a suitable bearing capacity at harvest time. This study was conducted in paddy fields, to investigate the effect of surface mid-season drainage duration on soil moisture and soil bearing capacity at harvest time. The field experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design with 6 treatments of mid-season drainage durations (MDD) i.e. 0 (control), 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 days in three replications. Based on the averages, the rate of the increase of soil water tension (SWT) was obtained as 52.6 cm d-1. For soil depths ranging from 0 to 25 cm, the difference between maximum and minimum soil bearing capacity (SBC) was on average 228.8 kPa. Generally, the increase of SBC at harvest time was observed with the prolongation of the mid-season drainage duration. Thus, considering mechanization development, energy saving and preparing land for second cultivation in paddy fields, application of mid-season drainage with 13-day duration in paddy fields is recommended for the studied area.

soil compaction, second cultivation, rice

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia