Soil compaction effects on early plant growth of squash

Attempts to grow squash in minimum tilled soil have resulted in poorer establishment and plant growth compared with plants sown into conventional tilled soil. The possibility that the higher bulk density of the top soil in minimum tilled soils affects root development and seedling growth was examined in a glasshouse experiment. Pots were prepared with soil bulk densities of 0.9, 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g/cm(3). Seedling weights and leaf area decreased with increasing bulk density, and this was associated with decreased root growth and root length densities.