Trash blankets and soil physical properties: Mackay experience

A long-term trial was conducted to compare the effects of green-cane-trash-blanketing and burnt cane (plus and minus cultivation) on bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity and aggregate stability. Changes were measured in these properties between 1995 and 1998 with soil physical degradation evident under all management systems. The greatest soil degradation was in the burnt, cultivated system with increased soil bulk density and decreased aggregate stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity (0-100 mm). This suggests that in the sugarcane systems investigated burning and cultivation have degraded soil physical properties compared with trash retention (zero tillage).