scholarly journals Soil Compaction Due to Increased Machinery Intensity in Agricultural Production: Its Main Causes, Effects and Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songül Gürsoy

In modern agriculture, most of the field operations from sowing to harvesting are done mechanically by using heavy agriculture machines. However, the loads from these heavy machines may induce stresses exceeding soil strength causing soil compaction. Nowadays, soil compaction is considered as a serious form of soil degradation, which may have serious economics and environmental consequences in world agriculture because of its effects on soil structure, plant growth and environmental events. Vehicle load, inflation pressure, number of passes, stress on the soil, and soil properties (e.g. soil water content, soil texture, soil strength, soil bulk density) play an important role on soil compaction. This chapter reviews the works related to soil compaction in agricultural areas. Also, it discusses the nature and causes of soil compaction, the effects of the compaction on soil properties, environment and plant growth, and the possible solutions suggested in the literature.

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (03) ◽  
pp. 306-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kabzems

Declines in forest productivity have been linked to losses of organic matter and soil porosity. To assess how removal of organic matter and soil compaction affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and year 1, 5 and 10 post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment plant community responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.)-dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate [2-cm impression], heavy [5-cm impression]). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen (198 cm compared to 472–480 cm) as well as white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) height (82 cm compared to 154–156 cm). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At Year 10, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor + whole tree removal treatments. Recovery of soil properties was occurring in the 0 cm to 2 cm layer of mineral soil. Bulk density values for the 0 cm to 10 cm depth remained above 86% of the maximum bulk density for the site, a soil condition where reduced tree growth can be expected.


1978 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. V. RAGHAVAN ◽  
E. McKYES ◽  
G. GENDRON ◽  
B. BORGLUM ◽  
H. H. LE

A 100-plot experiment was performed during the growing season of 1976 in a Ste. Rosalie clay soil, using a randomized complete-block design with 25 treatments of machinery traffic within each of four blocks. Three vehicle contact pressures, four numbers of tractor passes, before or after seeding groups and a control of zero traffic were used to relate the growth and yield variables to wheel traffic and resulting soil compaction. Plant emergence and tasselling were delayed with increasing machinery traffic. The plant growth rate monitored at 29, 44, 60, 74 and 88 days from the seeding time was dramatically different from plot to plot. Growth models at different times of the season were derived in terms of the product of contact pressure and number of passes of the vehicle. Plant and ear moisture contents were higher in plots with heavier traffic treatment. Yield, ear yield and grain yield all decreased with increases in machine contact pressure and passes. The reduction in yield was over 50% in some cases, suggesting that careful traffic planning is essential to obtain better production in agricultural fields. Prediction models were obtained for all the plant growth characteristics in terms of traffic variables for both before- and after-seeding treatments. A relation for yield in terms of soil bulk density was established.


Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Hamza ◽  
S. S. Al-Adawi ◽  
K. A. Al-Hinai

Reducing soil compaction is now an important issue in agriculture due to intensive use of farm machinery in different farm operations. This experiment was designed to study the influence of combinations of external load and soil water on soil compaction. Four soil water levels were combined with four external loads as follows: soil water—air-dry, 50% of field capacity, field capacity, and saturation; external load using different-sized tractors—no load (0 kg), small tractor (2638 kg), medium tractor (3912 kg), and large tractor (6964 kg). Soil bulk density, soil strength, and soil water infiltration rate were measured at 0–100, 100–200, and 200–300 mm soil depths. The 16 treatments were set up in a randomised block design with three replications. Combined increases in soil water and external load increased soil compaction, as indicated by increasing soil bulk density and soil strength and decreasing soil water infiltration rate. There was no significant interaction between soil water and external load for bulk density at all soil depths, but the interaction was significant for soil strength and infiltration rates at all soil depths. The ratio between the weight of the external load and the surface area of contact between the external load and the ground was important in determining the degree of surface soil compaction. Least compaction was produced by the medium tractor because it had the highest tyre/ground surface area contact. In general, the effects of soil water and external load on increasing soil bulk density and soil strength were greater in the topsoil than the subsoil.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 601-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mason C Carter ◽  
Thomas J Dean ◽  
Ziyin Wang ◽  
Ray A Newbold

At four sites in the Gulf Coastal Plain, mechanical whole-tree harvesting (MWT) removed more biomass and nutrients than hand-fell bole-only harvesting (HFBO). Soil compaction and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) regeneration growth varied among sites. At one location, MWT increased soil bulk density by 0.1 Mg·m–3, from 1.14 to 1.24 Mg·m–3, with no effect on tree growth. At a second location, where bulk density increased by 0.1 Mg·m–3, from 1.41 to 1.51 Mg·m–3, pine growth was reduced significantly. Soil strength at 15–20 cm depth increased by 0.3–0.5 MPa at both locations. However, where MWT reduced pine growth, herbaceous weed control mitigated the effect. Fertilization with N and P, where P was limiting, increased pine growth irrespective of other treatments. Where P was not limiting, addition of a complete fertilizer reduced the mitigating effect of weed control. Bedding reduced soil compaction without improving early tree growth; however, bedding was not tested on the two sites where soil compaction appeared to be at critical levels. Broadcast burning increased survival but reduced pine growth irrespective of harvesting method. Our results suggest that the impact of intensive management on site productivity varies among sites, is potentially accumulative, and is subject to change over time.


1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brais ◽  
C. Camiré

Soil compaction induced by forest harvesting operations can reduce site productivity. Intensity, extent and persistence of soil compaction were assessed on fine- to medium- and coarse-textured soils. Severe compaction took place in the wheel track section of the skid trails. On fine- to medium-textured soils, half of the effects on the 0- to 10-cm and 10- to 20-cm mineral soil bulk densities (+11 and +8%) and half of the changes in the 10-cm depth soil strength (+69%) occurred in the course of the first two skidding cycles (cycle of half impact). On coarse soils, half of the effect on the 0- to 10-cm bulk density (+11%) occurred during the first three passes. Cycles of half impact for soil strength were 9, 14, 7 and 6 for the 2.5-, 5-, 10-, and 20-cm depths and corresponded to increases of 235, 402, 157 and 103% respectively. Compaction was more limited between track sections of trails. Six to twelve years following clearcutting on fine- to medium-textured soils, 0- to 10-cm soil bulk density was less in the skid trails than on the undisturbed sections of cutovers. Careful logging on moist, fine- to medium-textured soils is the safest way to limit the extent of soil compaction. On coarse-textured soils, spreading the traffic remains a valid option. Key words: Soil compaction, bulk density, soil strength, forest harvesting, careful logging


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 314-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Naghdi ◽  
I. Bagheri ◽  
M. Akef ◽  
A. Mahdavi

In forest harvesting operations usually after using skidding machinery (skidders), traces of soil damage in the form of soil compaction and wheel and logs ruts can be seen in the forest soil. Soil bulk density, which represents soil compaction, decreases soil porosity, infiltration rate and aeration and these in turn increase runoff and water erosion in the harvested area. On the other hand, a decrease in soil aeration prevents root growth and decreases the vegetative cover. In this study the changes in soil bulk density and relative soil compaction due to a different number of wheeled skidder passes from stump to landing for two soil types (clay soil with high and low liquid limits, CH, CL) are analyzed. The results showed that the effect of skidder traffic on an increase in soil bulk density at sample locations was significant (α = 0.05). The range of soil bulk density increases in sample pits due to a different number of machinery passes was from 15.8% to 62.6% compared to the control area. The findings of this research showed that the interaction effect of skidder traffic and soil type on soil bulk density changes was not significant. Also the highest significant increase in soil bulk density occurred at the first 11 passes in skidding trails and from this number of passes onwards there was no significant difference in the soil bulk density increase in sample locations.


Author(s):  
А.С. Ильинцев ◽  
Е.Н. Наквасина

Колейность, образующаяся при проходе лесозаготовительной техники во время разработки лесосек при рубке леса, является одним из негативных экологических последствий, связанных с нарушениями почвенно-растительного покрова вырубок, определяющим дальнейшую их реновацию. Негативное влияние от формирования колейности зависит от числа проходов техники и связано с почвенно-климатическими условиями. На опытно-производственном участке ООО «Двинлеспром», территориально расположенном в междуречье С. Двины и Пинеги (Архангельская область, северотаежный лесной район европейской части РФ), изучено влияние разного числа проходов (4, 8, 10) груженого форвадера Ponsse Buffalo King по волоку, не покрытому порубочными остатками. Исходный участок леса представлен ельником черничным V класса бонитета, произрастающим на подзолистой почве на двучленных отложениях, широко распространенных в регионе. На постоянных учетных площадках (20 x 5 м), заложенных в 3 повторениях, провели детальное изучение строения колей, в дне каждой колеи вскрыли почвогрунт и сделали описание горизонтов/слоев почвы, взяли ненарушенные образцы почвы с глубины 0–10 и 10–20 см для определения влажности и плотности сложения. Установлено, что число проходов более определяет глубину, чем ширину колей. Выявлено 6 типов нарушений почвенного покрова по строению почво-грунта на дне колеи, связанных с перемешиванием, сдвиганием и выносом на дневную поверхность оглеенных почвообразующих пород. Показана представленность типов строения дна колеи в зависимости от числа проездов груженого форвардера, а также различия в плотности сложения и влажности почво-грунта. Плотность сложения в толще 0– 20 см при увеличении числа проходов техники закономерно увеличивается до значений, соответствующих почвообразующим породам. При этом доля влаги в толще 0–10 см при увеличении числа проходов повышается, а в толще 10–20 см снижается. Заметные изменения изученных показателей достигаются при восьмикратном проезде груженого форвардера, что позволяет считать это число проездом максимально допустимым на подзолистых почвах на двучленных отложениях в северотаежном лесном районе. The ruts formed after the passage of logging machinery during logging operations are one of the negative environmental consequences associated with disturbances of the soil and vegetation cover of deforestation, which determines their further renovation. The negative impact of the formation of ruts depends on the number of passes of machinery and is associated with soil and climatic conditions. We studied the effect of different number of passes (4, 8, 10) of a loaded Ponsse Buffalo King forvader on a skid trail that is not covered by felling residues. The experimental logging site of LLC Dvinlesprom is located in the watershed between of the Northern Dvina and Pinega (Arkhangelsk region, North Taiga forest region of the European part of the Russian Federation). The original site is represented by a blueberry spruce forest of the V class of bonity, which grows on podzolic soil on binomial deposits and is widely distributed in the region. We laid the permanent accounting pads (20 x 5 m) in 3 repetitions. We conducted a detailed study of the structure of the ruts, at the bottom of each rut, we opened the soil and made a description of the horizons/layers of the soil, took undisturbed soil samples from a depth of 0–10 and 10–20 cm to determine the soil bulk density and moisture content. It was found that the number of passes determines the depth more than the width of the ruts. We identified 6 types of disturbances of the soil cover on the structure of the soil at the bottom of the ruts, associated with mixing, shifting and removal of the gleying soil-forming parent soil to the day surface. We have given the types of the structure of the bottom of the ruts depending on the number of passes of the loaded forwarder, as well as the differences in the soil bulk density and moisture content. The soil bulk density in the thickness of 0–20 cm with an increase in the number of passes of the forwarder naturally increases to the values corresponding to the soil-forming parent soil. At the same time, the proportion of moisture in the thickness of 0–10 cm increases with an increase in the number of passes, and in the thickness of 10–20 cm decreases. Noticeable changes in the studied indicators are achieved with an eight-fold passage of a loaded forwarder, which allows us to consider this number as the maximum permissible passage on podzolic soils on binomial deposits in the north taiga forest area.


Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 947 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Zou ◽  
R. Sands ◽  
G. Buchan ◽  
I. Hudson

The interactions of the 4 basic soil physical properties—volumetric water content, matric potential, soil strength, and air-filled porosity—were investigated over a range of contrasting textures and for 3 compaction levels of 4 forest soils in New Zealand, using linear and non-linear regression methods. Relationships among these properties depended on texture and bulk density. Soil compaction increased volumetric water contents at field capacity, at wilting point, and at the water contents associated with restraining soil strength values, but decreased the water content when air-filled porosity was limiting. The integrated effect of matric potential, air-filled porosity, and soil strength on plant growth was described by the single parameter, least limiting water range (LLWR). LLWR defines a range in soil water content within which plant growth is least likely to be limited by the availability of water and air in soil and the soil strength. Soil compaction narrowed or decreased LLWR in most cases. In coarse sandy soil, initial compaction increased LLWR, but further compaction decreased LLWR. LLWR is sensitive to variations in forest management practices and is a potential indicator of soil physical condition for sustainable forest management.


2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Crofton Sloan ◽  
Richard L. Harkess ◽  
William L. Kingery

Urban soils are often not ideal planting sites due to removal of native topsoil or the mixing of topsoil and subsoil at the site. Adding pine bark based soil amendments to a clay soil altered soil bulk density and soil compaction which resulted in improved plant growth. Addition of nitrogen (N) or cotton gin waste to pine bark resulted in improved plant growth compared to pine bark alone. Growth of pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) during the 1999-2000 winter growing season was enhanced by the addition of pine bark plus nitrogen at 3- and 6-inch (7.6- and 15.2-cm) application rates (PBN3 and PBN6) and pine bark plus cotton gin waste at the 6 inch rate (CGW6). Plant size and flower production of vinca (Catharanthus roseus) were reduced by pine bark amendments applied at 3- or 6-inch rates (PB3 or PB6). Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) grown in plots amended with 3 or 6 inches of pine bark plus cotton gin waste (CGW3 or CGW6) and pine bark plus nitrogen at 3- or 6-inch rates (PBN3 or PBN6) produced greater shoot growth than other amendment treatments. In some instances PB3 treatments suppressed growth. High levels of N and soluble salts derived from CGW and PBN soil amendments incorporated into the soil probably contributed to the improved plant growth observed in this experiment.


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