b'ROUNDTABLE Expert views on best management practices in potato production.Practices for Mitigating Soil CompactionFour experts review the causes and negative aspects of soil compaction and provide their newest strategies to prevent and mitigate its effects .BY: TREENA HEINALTHOUGH FARMERS have known for a longcan be less available water in compacted soil, but JODI DEJONG- time that soil compaction is an important issue,compacted soil thats saturated can also lead to soil HUGHES they are now getting more serious than ever aboutdenitrification and reduced soil oxygen, which can, in Regional Extensionits management. Compaction can threaten potatoturn, result in reduced root growth and nitrogen and Educator, Universityplants in a number of negative ways, yet farmerspotassium deficiency. of Minnesota must often make the decision to enter a field (e.g.Uneven planting depth and sidewall smear-at planting) when conditions dont lend themselvesing is also common with compacted soil, reports well to compaction prevention. However, a wholisticDeJong-Hughes, as is an increased risk potential for approach throughout the year employing the latesterosion. Lastly, compacted soil can also increase risk strategies will ensure the effects of soil compactionof seedling disease. RYAN BARRETT are minimized, year in and year out. Matt Ramsay says at Oyster Cove Farms they Research and For this edition of Roundtable, Spud Smarthave stepped up their compaction investigation and Agronomysought input on new tactics and best practicesmanagement in recent years. Weve learned a lot Coordinator, P.E.I.from industry experts Jodi Dejong-Hughes, regionalabout plasticity of soil and in many years weve had to Potato Board extension educator at the University of Minnesota;start planting in conditions that werent ideal, says Ryan Barrett, research and agronomy co-ordinatorRamsay. I think we, and the whole potato industry at the P.E.I. Potato Board; Dan Sawatzky, manager atin P.E.I., are recognizing compaction as a cause of Keystone Potato Producers Association in Manitoba;yield loss and something we need to prevent as much DAN SAWATZKY and Matt Ramsay of Oyster Cove Farms in Princeas possible. Soil structure hasnt traditionally been Manager at KeystoneEdward Island.considered very much, but thats changing.Potato ProducersIn simple terms, compaction can be describedAlso, in Prince Edward Island, Ryan Barrett Association,as the reduction of pore space in the soilandand his colleagues have been making mitigation Manitobahow much compaction occurs as well as how muchof compaction a priority in extension efforts during recovery from compaction is possible is affectedthe last couple of years. Its hard to know whether by soil type. Kinds of compaction include surfacecompaction is getting better or worse over time as MATT RAMSAY compaction (especially under wheel tracks), plow orwe dont really have long-term studies or surveys, tillage pan compaction (just below plow depth) andsays Barrett. Director and operator,deep/subsoil compaction.However, we do know that there are many fields Oyster Cove Farms Ltd., Kensington, P.E.I.Compaction can cause several problems, manyin potato production in P.E.I. that struggle with it. We of them long term, explains Jodi DeJong-Hughes.did some trial work from 2014 to 2016 looking at yield It results in decreased plant growth because thevariability within fields and there were some indica-plant has difficulty growing larger roots and thistions from this work that compaction is having an obviously curtails nutrient and water uptake. Thereimpact. He adds that during 2018 and 2019, harvest SUPPORTED BY:24 SPUDSMART.COM WINTER 2020'