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Soil Compaction Prevention, Amelioration and Alleviation Measures Are Effective in Mechanized and Smallholder Agriculture: A Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Peipei Yang

    (Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Wenxu Dong

    (Hebei Key Laboratory of Soil Ecology, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang 050021, China)

  • Marius Heinen

    (Team Soil, Water and Land Use, Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Wei Qin

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

  • Oene Oenema

    (Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
    College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

Abstract

Background: The compaction of subsoils in agriculture is a threat to soil functioning. Measures aimed at the prevention, amelioration, and/or impact alleviation of compacted subsoils have been studied for more than a century, but less in smallholder agriculture. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively examine the effects of the prevention, amelioration, and impact alleviation measures in mechanized and small-holder agriculture countries, using studies published during 2000~2019/2020. Results: Mean effect sizes of crop yields were large for controlled traffic (+34%) and irrigation (+51%), modest for subsoiling, deep ploughing, and residue return (+10%), and negative for no-tillage (−6%). Mean effect sizes of soil bulk density were small (<10%), suggesting bulk density is not a sensitive ‘state’ indicator. Mean effect sizes of penetration resistance were relatively large, with large variations. Controlled traffic had a larger effect in small-holder farming than mechanized agriculture. Conclusion: We found no fundamental differences between mechanized and smallholder agriculture in the mean effect sizes of the prevention, amelioration, and impact alleviation measures. Measures that prevent soil compaction are commonly preferred, but amelioration and alleviation are often equally needed and effective, depending on site-specific conditions. A toolbox of soil compaction prevention, amelioration, and alleviation measures is needed, for both mechanized and smallholder agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Peipei Yang & Wenxu Dong & Marius Heinen & Wei Qin & Oene Oenema, 2022. "Soil Compaction Prevention, Amelioration and Alleviation Measures Are Effective in Mechanized and Smallholder Agriculture: A Meta-Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:645-:d:803229
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. René Rietra & Marius Heinen & Oene Oenema, 2022. "A Review of Crop Husbandry and Soil Management Practices Using Meta-Analysis Studies: Towards Soil-Improving Cropping Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-31, February.
    2. Lowder, Sarah K. & Skoet, Jakob & Raney, Terri, 2016. "The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 16-29.
    3. Cameron M. Pittelkow & Xinqiang Liang & Bruce A. Linquist & Kees Jan van Groenigen & Juhwan Lee & Mark E. Lundy & Natasja van Gestel & Johan Six & Rodney T. Venterea & Chris van Kessel, 2015. "Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 365-368, January.
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    2. Hamza Negiş, 2023. "Using Models and Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Soil Compaction Based on Textural Properties of Soils under Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Felicia Cheţan & Teodor Rusu & Roxana Elena Călugăr & Cornel Chețan & Alina Şimon & Adrian Ceclan & Marius Bărdaș & Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș, 2022. "Research on the Interdependence Linkages between Soil Tillage Systems and Climate Factors on Maize Crop," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Monika Vilkiene & Ieva Mockeviciene & Grazina Kadziene & Danute Karcauskiene & Regina Repsiene & Ona Auskalniene, 2023. "Bacterial Communities: Interaction to Abiotic Conditions under Effect of Anthropogenic Pressure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.

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