Soil crusting
Compaction of soil by the beating action of rain drop or wetting with the irrigation water in which the soil with low water stable fine particle’s structure slacks and get dispersed clogging soil pores. When such a soil dries a thin layer of the hard crust of the soil is formed. Soils crusting effect on the infiltration and seed germination that infiltrate is checked due to crusting of soils. Seed can’t penetrate the hard crusted soil while it is germinating.
Factors responsible for crust formation
- High beating action of rain on loose soil with fine particles
- High exchangeable sodium percentage
- Poor structural development
- Low aggregation due to low organic matter
- Puddling during tillage operation
Soil crusting may be minimized by
- Keeping some cover on land to minimize the impact of raindrop
- Tillage of the soil on still moist condition before it hardens
- Lowering the concentration of exchangeable sodium percentage if present
- Incorporation of adequate amount of organic matter in soil