An increase in seed-soil contact is a key objective of field tillage operations, as it can improve the maintenance of water supply for germination under varying environmental conditions and improve establishment. However, the effects of management techniques on the microstructure of the soil, and especially on the region immediately surrounding the seed, have not yet been extensively studied. Using X-ray computed tomography (CT) to quantify the 3D soil microstructure, we revealed high variability in the seed-soil contact under varying field conditions. Tillage operation had a significant effect on seed-soil contact (as measured by image analysis) with loamy sand soil ranging from 15 % (minimum tillage) to 30 % (maximum tillage) compared to 5% (ploughed and syncro) to 15 % (ploughed) in silty clay loam soil. However, differences in seedbed porosity did not lead to significant differences in seed-soil contact and subsequent establishment. Intensive farming did not necessarily result in ideal seedbed conditions or high precision with respect to sowing. As such, it appears that farmers are only able to minimally impact seed-soil contact via tillage operations.

种子土壤接触的增加是田间耕作操作的主要目标，因为它可以改善在变化的环境条件下发芽用水的维持并改善种植状况。但是，管理技术对土壤微结构的影响，尤其是对种子周围直接区域的影响，尚未得到广泛研究。使用X射线计算机断层扫描（CT）量化3D土壤微观结构，我们揭示了在不同田间条件下种子-土壤接触的高度可变性。耕作操作对壤土壤土的种子-土壤接触（通过图像分析进行测量）有显着影响，范围从15％（最小耕作）到30％（最大耕作），而5％（耕作和同步耕种）到15％（耕作）耕在粉质粘土壤土中。然而，种床孔隙率的差异并没有导致种子-土壤接触和随后建立的显着差异。集约化耕作不一定能带来理想的苗床条件或播种的高精度。因此，农民似乎只能通过耕种操作将种子-土壤的接触影响降至最低。