Effects of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivation duration on some soil physical properties in Ramu Valley of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Repeated tillage operations for planting sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and wheel traffic for cane harvesting and transport are known to affect the surface and sub-surface soil in Ramu sugarcane plantation of Papua New Guinea. This study examines the changes in the bulk density (SBD), penetration resistance (PR) and water infiltration (WI) parameters in cane rows and wheel tracks of a Tropofluents that have been exposed to varying durations (0, 6, 11, 16 and 22 years) of cane cultivation after being converted from grasslands. Sugarcane cultivation duration had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on SBD and PR in the cane rows and in wheel tracks in both surface (0-10 cm) and subsurface soils (> 10 cm depth). In response to 22 years of cane cultivation, bulk density increased by a small extent in the cane rows (2.5%), while in wheel tracks the increase was by 15%. There was a significant (p < 0.05) effect of converting grasslands to cane cultivation with respect to cumulative infiltration of water. Wheel tracks had 59.7, 62.8, 76.2 and 76.8% lower cumulative infiltration of water than the cane rows in the fields cultivated for 6, 11, 16 and 22 years. Sustainable soil management practices need to be explored for improving soil properties in cane rows and to alleviate compaction in wheel tracks.