Soil Compaction: How to Do It, Undo It, or Avoid Doing It

Soil compaction reduces rooting, infiltration, water storage, aeration, drainage, and crop growth. Soil compaction has been studied intensively for more than a century, and yet we still struggle with the effect that soil compaction has on crop production and the environment. In this article, we attempt to present the primary causes of soil compaction including trafficking weak soil, excessive loads, and soils that are somewhat predisposed to soil compaction. We also offer suggestions on methods of alleviating soil compaction, which vary from gradual improvement using conservation tillage systems to the immediate improvement offered by subsoiling. Additionally, we cover methods that producers can use to avoid compacting their soil, including reducing their axle load, using radial tires and maintaining proper inflation pressure, duals, tracks, and controlling their traffic. Unfortunately, few if any of our suggestions could be used to cure soil compaction because as long as vehicles are used to plant and harvest crops on the same soil that is used to produce crops, there will continue to be soil compaction and an endless battle to reduce its ill effects.