WHAT IS SOIL COMPACTION?
Soil compaction can occur in any type of soil. Years of traffic and till-
age can cause soil particles to group together and fill in air spaces in
the soil creating a “plow pan” below the tillage area. When this hap-
pens, a hard layer is formed making it difficult for moisture and roots to
penetrate the soil.
Some soil types are more susceptible to compaction than others; but
once a compaction layer is formed, and moisture and traffic continues,
the compaction layer will continue to get denser and thicker.
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF A SOIL COMPACTION
PROBLEM?
1. Compacted soil is much harder to work. This will cause you to use
more power and take longer to till, wasting fuel, time and money.
2. You may already be aware of soil compaction but not have the tools
to determine if it is a problem. For example, unnecessarily trying to
correct soil compaction by tilling to a deeper depth can be a waste of
time and money.
3. Your crop yield can be reduced by as much as 50% because of poor
root and plant development.
1
Operation
TYPICAL COMPACTION SITUATION
Disc Depth
Abnormal Root
Development
100 lbs.
Uncompacted
Plow Pan
Roots Cannot
Penetrate
Moisture is Trapped
Above and Below
400 lbs.
Compacted
Subsoiling Depth
75 lbs.
Uncompacted
Plowing Depth
3”
9”
15”