Elsevier

Geoderma

Volume 116, Issues 1–2, September 2003, Pages 107-136
Geoderma

Quantification of compaction effects on soil physical properties and crop growth

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00097-1Get rights and content

Abstract

A quantitative description of soil compaction effects is required to improve soil management for reducing compaction problems in crop production and environment. Our objective is to provide a review of indices and methods used to quantify the effects of compaction on soil physical properties and crop growth. The paper starts with the description of available methods to quantify stress and displacement under traffic. The following few sections deal with methods and parameters used to characterise the effect of compaction on soil strength, oxygen, water, heat and structural arrangement with consideration of spatial variability. The effect of soil compaction on macroporosity and associated water movement, aeration and root growth is discussed. One section is devoted to integrated systems to measure simultaneously more than one soil physical property. Potential of some advanced developments in computer-assisted tomography (CAT) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for non-destructive 3D quantification of soil structure, roots and root water uptake as affected by soil compaction is indicated. Finally, some techniques useful for quantifying root and shoot growth, and water uptake in relation to soil compaction are discussed. The models available allow assessment of compaction effects on some behavioural soil properties based on the inherent properties and bulk density of soil. Additional research is required on the effect of compaction on soil structural discontinuities that substantially affect many soil functions and root growth in the whole profile.

Introduction

Compaction of agricultural soils is an increasingly challenging worldwide problem for crop production and environment Van Ouwerkerk and Soane, 1994, Soane and Ouwerkerk, 1995. The vast majority of soil compaction and shearing in modern agriculture is due to vehicular traffic, which is an integral part of the soil management system. Increasing size of agricultural implements is a significant cause of induced soil compaction and deterioration of soil structure. In addition, many agronomic practices have to be performed frequently in a very short period of time and when soil is wet and conducive to compaction. This results in deeper stress penetration and subsoil compaction (Van den Akker and Stuiver, 1989).

Alterations in soil structure due to compaction influence many aspects of the soil such as strength, gas, water and heat, which in turn affect root and shoot growth and consequently crop production and environmental quality. Proper quantification of soil compaction effects is essential to develop management strategies that minimise the harmful compactive effect. In this paper we review the indices and measurement approaches which are relevant to the quantification of the behavioural soil physical properties and crop growth in response to compaction. Response of the indices to soil compaction in relation to soil type and experimental conditions is discussed.

Section snippets

Measuring stresses and strains

The methods to measure stress and strains (displacements) including the theory were thoroughly reviewed by Horn and Baumgartl (1999). The use of relatively large size of measuring devices causes considerable disturbance in soil structure and therefore recent developments tend to miniaturise sensors and measure stress and displacement simultaneously Kühner et al., 1994, Trautner and Arvidsson, 2000, Tarkiewicz and Lipiec, 2000, Pytka and Konstankiewicz, 2002. In the system described by

Indices of the state of soil compactness

Dry bulk density and total porosity are commonly used to characterise the state of soil compactness. However, these properties have a limited value for comparison of the state of compaction between soil types. To overcome this problem, actual bulk density is expressed as a percentage of some reference compaction state of given soil and called degree of compactness or relative compactness.

The degree of compactness proposed by Håkansson (1990) is defined as the ratio of the actual bulk density to

Soil physical characteristics

For accurate assessment of changes in soil fabric due to compaction, measurements of bulk density are not adequate Dexter, 1997, Horn and Rostek, 2000, McQueen and Shepherd, 2002 and should include other soil properties. Measurements of soil strength, aeration, water, thermal and structural characteristics are identified as the main behavioural properties influencing the quality of the soil after compaction. Changes in the characteristics with time provide information on the sustainability of

Concluding remarks

This paper reviews the indices and methods used to quantify the effects of soil compaction on strength, air, water, heat and root and shoot growth. A wide range of the indices and methods is used. The selection process (which of them should be used) depends on soil type, climate and severity of compaction. A few measuring systems for simultaneous measurement of two or more soil physical characteristics, which minimise soil disturbance and prevent complications due to soil heterogeneity, are

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