Soil compaction occur when the soil particles in soil get pressed together. Soil compaction reduces the amount of spaces between soil particles. Soil compaction is problematic for farmers due to the fact that soil compaction limits the movement of water and roots through the soil.
One way to determine the level of soil compaction in the soil in you field is to use a reference chart for soil compaction. This type of reference chart allow farmers to measure the effects of soil compaction in their field. The reference chart contains information regarding four different level of soil compaction.
Soil Compaction: What It Is and How to Stop It
At the lowest level of soil compaction, the roots can move through the soil, and water can drain through the soil. At the next level of soil compaction, the roots of the plant will grow beside the soil rather than growing in the soil, and the pore space in the soil will decrease. At the highest level of soil compaction indicated on the reference chart, the roots of the plants will hit a barrier in the soil, and the water cannot move downward into the soil, but may instead move lateral in the soil.
According to the reference chart, farmers can use these different level of soil compaction to determine if soil compaction in there fields is a minor problem or a major one. Soil compaction often develops over time rather than suddenly. The weight of farm equipment, the weight of individuals feet in the same rows of planted crops, and the working of the soil when it is too wet often causes soil compaction.
Clay soils tend to develop soil compaction morely than other soil types, as the clay particles tend to stick together when wet. Therefore, clay soils have the highest risk of soil compaction according to the reference chart. Additionally, clay soils contains more organic matter than other soils.
If the field containing those soils loses it structure, it will also lose its crops and crop yield. Crops will react different than soil compaction. Root vegetables will often fork or the roots will stop growing altogether due to soil compaction.
Small grains may produce fewer tillers due to soil compaction preventing the roots from finding enough nitrogen. Fruiting vegetables may drop their blossoms due to the roots of those vegetables becoming water logged due to soil compaction. Soil compaction will negatively affect any crop that require deep, aerated soil.
According to the reference chart, there are specific response to soil compaction. If soil compaction is identified as moderate, farmers may plant cover crops that contain strong taproots that will help loosen the soil over time. If soil compaction is identified as high, a subsoiler can be used to loosen the soil.
However, farmer must be careful with using a subsoiler so that the soil life are not destroyed. Following either planting cover crops or using a subsoiler, compost may be added to the soil. Compost will help the new pore space in the soil to hold onto its structure so that soil compaction does not occur again the following spring.
Preventing soil compaction is less expensive than repairing soil compaction. One way to prevent soil compaction is to ensure that all farm equipment traffic is restricted to permanent lanes in the field. By limiting traffic to permanent lanes, the rest of the field will not become compacted.
Another way to prevent soil compaction is to wait until the soil crumbles in your fingers before working the soil. Working the soil when it ribbons may lead to soil compaction. Using wide tires with low pressure may help to prevent soil compaction cause by heavy rainfall.
The soil life within the fields may help to prevent soil compaction. Earthworms and the fungal threads in the soil create channels in the soil that allow the soil to aerate, and the earthworms and fungal threads bind the soil particles together into crumbs. These crumbs will resist the soil pressure more better than loose soil dust.
Therefore, soil that contains more organic matter has less soil compaction. The soil biology and soil structure works together to prevent soil compaction. Using a probe to determine the depth of soil compaction allow the farmer to use the reference chart to determine the state of the soil in their fields.
The reference chart will help the farmer decide what change can be made to the soil prior to the next planting season.