Soil Compaction and Maize Yield in Various Plowing Systems from a Sustainability Perspective

This paper explores the impact of different plowing systems on soil compaction and maize yield from a sustainability perspective, drawing on data from the ex-experimental base in Mjede, Shkoder, from 1988 to 1989. Conducted in Alluvial soil or Fluvisols (WRB, 2014) with Rozafa 133 hybrid maize, the study employs a randomized design with 6 tillage depth variants (12, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 cm) and 4 replicates. Soil bulk density (SBD) is measured using the core method. The assessment of maize yield loss due to soil compaction utilizes the linear relationship between depth of tillage and plant yield and soil bulk density (SBD), which calculates the relative production impacted by soil compaction. The results of this study indicate a clear relationship between soil tillage depth and bulk density (y = −0.0018x + 1.317; R2 = 0.926), with deeper tillage depths generally associated with lower bulk densities, suggesting a potential method to mitigate soil compaction. Additionally, the findings reveal a significant positive correlation between maize yield (%) and bulk density (y = −497.36x + 719.63, R2 = 0.858), emphasizing the importance of deeper tillage practices for optimizing agricultural productivity and sustainability. The economic loss from maize yield loss due to soil compaction is 325 Euro/ha.