Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
*Present address: Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab
In studies concerning the effect of tillage, compaction and amendments on bulk-density of soils, density changes are generally attributed to direct effect of treatments. Hut in swelling soils, considerable changes in bulk-density occur due to changes in soil-moisture content. Present studies with black soils have shown that for precise comparison between treatments, bulk-density must be corrected to a chosen reference water content. Regression equations relating bulk-density change with soil-moisture content were obtained. Coated clod method was found to be more sensitive than core method for detecting bulk-density changes associated with soil-moisture content.
Bulk-density, natural and artificial clods, black soil
