Soil compaction level under mechanized harvesting system in paddy field: a comparisons of pre-harvest and post-harvest / Mohamad Aiman Muslim Mohamad Sakril and Darius El Pebrian

Soil compaction is serious problem and not suitable form of soil degradation that lead in increasing of soil erosion and decreasing of crop production. This happen by the compression, soil density and reduction on the size of pore space by eliminate the water contents. This study was conducted to measure the soil compaction levels in paddy field under the conditions of before and after harvesting operation. The measurements were using a penetrometer to evaluate the soils compaction before and after in paddy field at Kampung Sempang, Merlimau paddy fields at coordinate (2.142598°N. 102.415095°E). Prior the testing, sampling points was made on the areas with 9 quadrants and 5 samples taken on each quadrant. While testing, the penetrometer was pressed with steady and even pressure to make sure the data received are accurate. Besides, soil samples also been taken to the laboratory to identify' soil moisture. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS and Excel to form the statistical analysis including descriptive analysis, T-test, correlation and regression. By the data obtains, there are relationship between both soil moisture and soil compaction by R2 value of after, 0.4408 more than before, 0.3029 that impacted by the involvements of mechanization in paddy fields. The graph made also show the different on both before and after the used of mechanization in harvesting process by after the usage of machinery have different of 9.111 lbs more than before harvest. In statistical analysis, the alpha is 0.05 and the p-value is 0.000 which rejected the HO by using (p < a) statistical law. So, there are significant different between before and. after use of combine harvester. The mechanization in paddy harvesting influences the destruction on soil moisture and compaction of soil in paddy land in long term of utilization.