Subsoiling and temporary drainage in soils with low permeability

Marc-Olivier Gasser

Researcher

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Description

The project evaluated and compared the effectiveness of two types of subsoil plows (mounted on a bulldozer or a tractor) operated parallel and perpendicular to the tile drains to improve soil drainage conditions and productivity compared to control plots. Three sites for the trials were selected in the Montérégie, Centre du Québec, and Chaudière-Appalaches regions on highly compacted clay soils with poor natural drainage. The productivity gains in commercial corn, soybean, and grain crops were compiled, analyzed, and compared in the light of the changes observed in the physical properties and hydraulic behavior of the soils.

Objective(s)

Measuring and comparing the effectiveness of various subsoiling techniques to improve soil drainage and the productivity of commercial crops on compact, low-permeability soils
Improving drainage on relatively impermeable soils using a more cost-effective method than enlarging or renovating an already dense drainage system

From 2014 to 2017

Project duration

Field crops

Activity areas

Soil health

Service

Subsoiling revives compacted soil by increasing its permeability.

Partners

Innov'Action | Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Publications

Research report • Marc-Olivier Gasser, Marie-Ève Tremblay

Gasser, M.-O., M.-È. Tremblay. 2017. Rapport de recherche - Sous-solage et drainage temporaire des sols à perméabilité réduite. IRDA. 55 p. Download

Scientific article • Marc-Olivier Gasser

Djiemon, A, M.-O. Gasser, J. Gallichand. 2019. Random forests to detect subsoiling and subsurface drainage effects on corn plant height and water table depth. Soil and Tillage Research. 192(September 2019) 10 p. Download

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