Although soil compaction in the field may benefit or inhibit the growth of plants, the harmful effects are much more common. This paper emphasizes the deleterious effects of predominantly high levels of soil compaction on plant growth and yield. High levels of soil compaction are common in heavily used recreation areas, construction sites, urban areas, timber harvesting sites, fruit orchards, agroforestry systems and tree nurseries. Compaction can occur naturally by settling or slumping of soil or may be induced by tillage tools, heavy machinery, pedestrian traffic, trampling by animals and fire. Compaction typically alters soil structure and hydrology by increasing soil bulk density; breaking down soil aggregates; decreasing soil porosity, aeration and infiltration capacity; and by increasing soil strength, water runoff and soil erosion. Appreciable compaction of soil leads to physiological dysfunctions in plants. Often, but not always, reduced water absorption and leaf water deficits develop. S...

Soil Compaction and Growth of Woody Plants

Status of the World’s Soil Resources Main report

The positive role of green manuring in crop production has been known since ancient time. Importance of this soil ameliorating practice is increasing in recent years because of high cost of chemical fertilizers, increased risk of environmental pollution, and need of sustainable cropping systems. Green manuring can improve soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and consequently crop yields. Furthermore, potential benefits of green manuring are reduced nitrate (NO3 −) leaching risk and lower fertilizer N requirements for succeeding crops. However, its influence may vary from soil to soil, crop to crop, environmental variables, type of green manure crop used, and its management. Beneficial effects of green manuring in crop production should not be evaluated in isolation; however, in integration with chemical fertilizers. The objective of this article is to review recent advances in green manuring practice, in the context of potential benefits and drawbacks in use of this practice for ann...

Green Manuring in Crop Production

Soil compaction is a major problem in soil management and crop production wherever agriculture is mechanized. Because the effects of soil compaction are not easily recognized or measured, estimates of its effects on crop production are not reliable. Compaction in the field can be produced with wheel traffic, tillage and planting implements, and any equipment used for ground spraying, cultivating, harvesting, or transport, or it may also occur naturally in some soils. Soils may show compaction below maximum depth of penetration of the tillage tool caused by the tool itself, as well as by traction or transport. Compaction may occur in the tilled layer associated with primary and secondary tillage and associated traffic. Compaction can also occur in no-till (direct drilled) systems, in which there is no tillage after harvest and the only soil disturbance is that during planting. Management of soil compaction requires an awareness of when and where compaction is produced, when it becomes excessive and harmful, how long it lasts, and how it affects root health and soilborne pathogens.

Effects of Soil Compaction and Incorporated Crop Residue on Root Health

Annual row crop production on the naturally occurring claypan soils of the eastern Great Plains may require field operations during somewhat wet conditions and this potentially results in soil compaction by the commonly-used, heavy-weight tractors and equipment. The objectives of this experiment were (i) to determine if compaction reduced yield and growth of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown on a claypan soil (fine, mixed, thermic Mollic Albaqualf) and (ii) to determine the effect of wheel tracks on selected soil properties and whether chisel plow tillage could reduce wheel-track compaction. Compaction treatments were (i) ALL- all of the plot compacted, (ii) WT-wheel-track compaction, (iii) WTC-wheel-track compaction followed by a chisel tillage operation, and (iv) NO-no intentional compaction. In general, it took until the third year of annually repeated compaction in the ALL treatment to reduce crop growth and yields compared with the NO compaction treatment. Even though nearly half of the area was compacted each year in the WT treatment, few measured crop parameters decreased. In wheel tracks, soil penetrometer resistance and bulk density increased and air permeability decreased compared with out of tracks. However, chisel tillage appeared to eliminate the compaction by reducing penetration resistance and bulk density and increasing air permeability to values similar to out of tracks. Thus, compaction of claypan soils may not often be a problem for producers in this area, especially if occasional chisel tillage is included to remove possible compacted zones.

Crop and Soil Response to Wheel-Track Compaction of a Claypan Soil

Influence of soil compaction on soybean stand yield, and Phytophthora root rot incidence.

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Influence of soil compaction on soybean stand yield, and Phytophthora root rot incidence.