This experiment was carried out in pots containing a Dark Red Latosol (Acrortox, loamy sand), to evaluate the effect of sub-soil compaction on root growth of six cover crop species (black oats, pigeonpea, pearl millet, black mucuna, sorghum and blue lupin). The treatments consisted of three sub-soil compaction rates at a 15 cm depth, where bulk densities of 1,12, 1,36 and 1,60 Mg m-3 were established. Cover crop species were grown for a period of 37 to 39 days after emergence, when they were harvested. Root dry matter weight, length and diameter and shoot dry matter were evaluated. Sub-soil compaction up to 1.6 Mg m-3 (1,22 MPa) at a 15 cm depth, in this sandy soil, is not critical for the cover crop species root growth. Considering its shoot and root growth, pearl millet showed to be the best species to be used as cover crop.
bulk density; gramineous plants; leguminous plants