4. Compacted soil can prevent water from penetrating deeper into the
soil. This can reduce plant development and yield especially during
dry periods with no rain. Compaction can also lead to surface water
retention making the field more difficult to work in the spring and
fall seasons.
5. In compacted soil, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides can more eas-
ily be washed away and not absorbed or even become more concen-
trated causing plant damage. This can result in reduced crop yield.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT A SOIL COMPACTION PROBLEM?
If you have determined that you have a soil compaction problem and at
what depth the compaction exists, your solution could be as easy as one
of the following:
• Reducing traffic in the affected areas of the field.
• Seeding cover crops that will improve water management.
• Choosing a tillage tool that will penetrate the compacted area of the field.
Your local agricultural extension office is a good source of information
to help you determine what can be done to help correct and prevent soil
compaction problems.
WHAT IS A SOIL COMPACTION TESTER?
Your Soil Compaction Tester is a penetrometer which measures the com-
paction of soil and is based on the ASAE S313.3 standard. The Tester is
supplied with two tips: a small tip (1/2” diameter) for use in firm soil and
a large tip (3/4”diameter) for use in soft soil. The dial has two scales (one
for each tip) that are calibrated in pounds per square inch of the base
area of the cone shaped tip.
THE DIAL IS COLOR-CODED FOR REFERENCE:
Green (0 - 200 psi)
Good Growing Conditions
Yellow (200 - 300 psi)
Fair Growing Conditions
Red (300 psi and above)
Poor Growing Conditions
2
Operation
NOTE: The gauge is
engineered to have
a positive load, thus
the needle does not
always contact the
pin on the low end
of the green scale.
This will not affect
the readings for
either index scale.
2
operation
Compacted soil can prevent water from penetrating deeper into the
4.
soil. This can reduce plant development and yield especially during
dry periods with no rain. Compaction can also lead to surface water
retention making the field more difficult to work in the spring and
fall seasons.
In compacted soil, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides can more eas-
5.
ily be washed away and not absorbed or even become more concen-
trated causing plant damage. This can result in reduced crop yield.
WhaT To do aBoUT a SoIl CompaCTIon proBlem?
If you have determined that you have a soil compaction problem and at
what depth the compaction exists, your solution could be as easy as one
of the following:
Reducing traffic in the affected areas of the field.
•
Seeding cover crops that will improve water management.
•
Choosing a tillage tool that will penetrate the compacted area of the field.
•
Your local agricultural extension office is a good source of information
to help you determine what can be done to help correct and prevent soil
compaction problems.
WhaT IS a SoIl CompaCTIon TeSTer?
Your Soil Compaction Tester is a penetrometer which measures the com-
paction of soil and is based on the ASAE S313.3 standard. The Tester is
supplied with two tips: a small tip (1/2” diameter) for use in firm soil and
a large tip (3/4”diameter) for use in soft soil. The dial has two scales (one
for each tip) that are calibrated in pounds per square inch of the base
area of the cone shaped tip.
The dIal IS Color-Coded For reFerenCe:
Green (0 - 200 psi)
Good Growing Conditions
Yellow (200 - 300 psi)
Fair Growing Conditions
Red (300 psi and above)
Poor Growing Conditions