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Structural improvement in a grassland soil after changes to wheel‐traffic systems to avoid soil compaction
Author(s) -
Douglas J. T.,
Koppi A. J.,
Crawford C. E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1998.tb00604.x
Subject(s) - compaction , soil compaction , environmental science , grassland , soil science , macropore , soil structure , earthworm , aeration , volume (thermodynamics) , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , soil water , geology , agronomy , engineering , chemistry , mesoporous material , paleontology , biochemistry , biology , waste management , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract. We report on a study aimed at assessing improvements in soil structure that developed when a reduced ground‐pressure traffic system was introduced onto grassland previously compacted by conventional machinery traffic, and when a zero traffic system was introduced on land previously under a reduced ground‐pressure system. Increases in the volume, average size, and number of macropores, measured by image analysis, together with decreases in vane shear strength indicated structural improvement in soil under the substitute traffic systems relative to the same soil in the original systems. A smaller content of organic matter in the soil of the substitute systems than in the original systems was attributed to improved aeration and greater earthworm activity in the former.