Problem
The area in Europe with soil compaction being the cause of soil degradation is estimated at 33 million hectares. In the Netherlands soil compaction is the most widespread kind of physical soil degradation. Due to continuously increasing wheel loads in agriculture soil compaction is more and more extending to the subsoil, i.e. the soil below the till layer including the plough layer. Soil compaction deserves special attention since it is a persistent phenomenon which is barely nullified by natural processes.
Compacted subsoils are not optimal, both from an economic and an environmental viewpoint. The compaction results in reduced crop yields and reduced quality of crops. Besides this, due to compaction more water and nutrients are needed. Also, more energy is needed to cultivate the compacted soil. Currently the negative results of soil compaction are compensated for by applying drainage and by increasing the supply of nutrients and water. These so called solutions imply large, and sometimes excessive, use of water and nutrients resulting in environmental pollution. A well-conserved subsoil, being a salubrious habitat of soil flora and fauna, is aimed for, and is a condition for integrated agricultural systems. The influence of soil compaction at soil fauna is generally underestimated: it is much larger than the effects of chemical soil pollution. In a subsoil with good soil physical conditions plants can make optimally use of nutrients and water; a minimal supply of nutrients and water will be needed. A severely compacted subsoil has reduced infiltration and storage capacity, resulting in an increased surface runoff, which causes soil erosion and pollution of surface water with nutrients and chemical substances.
Research done by Alterra
The research focuses particularly at developing methods to prevent for soil compaction of subsoils, and mapping soil compaction of subsoils. Low tire pressures have proved to be an effective way to prevent for soil compaction. Although large and broad tires are applied in practice, the pressures often appear to be too high. The process of soil compaction and its effects on soil physical parameters, crop growth, and physical, chemical and ecological processes is very complex and a proper understanding of many aspects is still lacking. This implies a need for continuous scientific research efforts. The Soil Centre contributes to this research by participating in many research projects, both at a national and an international leve
References
Websites
Subsoil Compaction Homepage
Publications
Arvidsson, J., Trautner, A., Van den Akker, J.J.H., Schjönning, P., 2001. Subsoil compaction caused by heavy sugarbeet harvesters in southern Sweden: II. Soil displacement during wheeling and model computation of compaction. Soil Soil and Tillage Res. 60, Vol. 1 / 2: 79-89.
Arvidsson, J., Sjoberg, E., Van den Akker, J.J.H. 2003. Subsoil compaction by heavy sugarbeet harvesters. III. Risk assessment using a soil water model. Soil & Till. Res. 73: 77-87.
Horn, R., Van den Akker, J.J.H. and Arvidsson, J., (Eds.), 2000. Subsoil Compaction: Distribution, Processes and Consequences. Advances in GeoEcology 32, Catena Verlag, Reiskirchen Germany 462 pp.
Trautner, A., Van den Akker, J.J.H., Fleige, H, Arvidsson, J. and Horn, R., 2003. A subsoil compaction database: its development, structure and content. Soil Soil and Tillage Res. 73: 9-13.
Van den Akker, J.J.H., 2004. SOCOMO: a soil compaction model to calculate soil stresses and the subsoil carrying capacity. Soil & Tillage Research 79: 113-127.
Van den Akker, J.J.H. and Soane, B., 2004. Compaction. Chapter in: Hillel. D. (Ed. in Chief) Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment. pp. 285-293.
Van den Akker, J.J.H. and Schjønning, P., 2004. Subsoil compaction and ways to prevent it. In: Schjønning, P., Elmholt, S. and Christensen, B.T. (eds.). Management Soil Quality: Challenges in modern agriculture, CABI Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. pp. 163-184.
Van den Akker, J.J.H., Arvidsson, J. and Horn, R., 2003. Introduction to the special issue on experiences with the impact and prevention of subsoil compaction in the European Union. Soil and Tillage Res. 73: 1-8.
Van den Akker J.J.H., Canarache, A., 2001. Two European concerted actions on subsoil compaction. Landnutzung und Landentwicklung / Land Use and Development. Vol. 42 (1) , 15-22.
Van den Akker, J.J.H., 1998. Prevention of subsoil compaction by defining a maximum wheel load bearing capacity. Advances in Sugar Beet Research, IIRB, Vol. 1, pp. 43-54