ChileanJAR

The objective of this work was to evaluate the durability of subsoiling after six and twelve months. Deep, calcareous Aquic Torrifluvents soil, of thick loam texture was used for the evaluation. It was planted with Royal Gala apple trees on EM 9 rootstock. Before planting, deep tillage was performed with subsoiler at 60 cm depth over the line of planting. The treatments were as follows: A) Tilled soil, and B) Non-tilled soil. A cone penetrometer was used to measure the penetration resistance by making measurements transversely to the rows to a width of 100 cm and a depth of 60 cm. The statistical design was completely randomized with fifteen repetitions. Lower penetration resistance was observed for the tilled treatment at 0.25 m from each side of the row reaching 0.52 m depth, whereas at 0.50 m positions the effect was only superficial. Considering the disruption pattern typical of this type of tillage, it is concluded that the tillage still exists after one year, since important changes were produced in the mentioned pattern, being an appropriate technique to standardize the physical conditions of soil prior to planting.