Orchard production traffic demands have characteristics that is called controlled traffic. Tractors and its machines, always use the same tracks in each of their passage. Not only this negative condition, but the fact that the irrigation used is usually excessive, it leads to a highly potential condition to enhance over-compaction in Alto Valle region in Argentina. This paper is part of a thesis refered to the possibility of introducing changes in the manner of the phytosanitary applications are done. These changes consist in leaving the fixed calendar method to the one proposed by the Integrated Orchard Production program of the INTA. In an apple orchard field, on two soil conditions, with and without grass, traffic corresponding to a whole year management passages of a tractor and it sprayer were simulated for both systems. Penetration resistance was assessed before and after traffic, and related to induced compaction. Over-compaction values were measured more frequently on non-grassed soil if control plot was considered. Edaphic reology was different for each soil condition after traffic was applied. Traffic decreases due to Integrated Orchard Production management and were of significant importance if a sustainable system is the target.
soil compactness; trafficked soil; penetration resistance
