ROBERT LEIBY
DAVID DUNBAR
Lehigh Co. Extension Agents
Soil compaction is defined as a
process of rearranging soil parti
cles to decrease pore space and in
crease bulk density (weight per
unit of volume).
An ideal soil might have 50 per
cent pore space. Compaction re
duces the movement of gases and
water in the soil, increases soil
strength, and reduces crop yields
significantly.
Soil oxygen is essential for seed
germination, root development,
nutrient uptake, and soil microb
activity. Restricted water move
ment prevents beneficial drainage
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KELLER'S FARM MACHINE. INC.
Quakertown, PA 215-836-4046
CHAMBERSBURG FARM SERVICE MARSHALL EQIKPMIMJT CO.
Chambersburg, PA 717-264-3533 B ®y cr * PA 412-783-6333
ANDERSON TRACTOR SALES. INC.
Shrewsbury. PA 717-238-6213
NORMAN D. CLARK & SON. INC.
Loysville, PA 717-789-3117
FARMER’S EQUIPMENT &
SUPPLY CO.,INC.
Airville, PA 717-862-3967
FARMBRSVTLLB EQUIPMENT CO.
Ephrata, PA
GEORGE N. GROSS. INC.
Dover, PA 717-292-1673
GROWER’S EQUIPMENT
CENTER. INC.
Biglerville, PA 717-677-7133
A. L. HERR & BROS.
QuarryviUc, PA 717-786-3521
Soil Compaction Worth
when soils are wet and limits the
availability of water to roots when
soils are dry. The increased soil
strength caused by compaction
directly blocks root growth.
Plants growing in compacted
soils are slow to emerge. Stand
and plant size are variable. Leaves
may be off-color due to nutrient
deficiency. Roots are shallow and
malformed. Plants are especially
susceptible to moisture stress
(from either too much or too little
water).
Compaction symptoms that
may be observed in soil include
crusting and cracking of soil sur
faces, excessive erosion, ruts and
standing water, higher power re
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quiremcnts for tillage, and only
partial decomposition of crop re
sidues.
Because water lubricates soil
particles, wet soils compact more
readily than dry soils.'Fine-textur
ed soils and soils with variable
particle sizes compact more easily
than uniformly coarse textured
soils. Organic matter helps pre- -
vent soil compaction and reduces
bulk density.
Freezing/thawing and wetting
drying help to correct compaction
in surface soil, but deep compac
tion is difficult to treat Mechani
cal subsoiling gets limited and/or
temporary results. The best ap
proach is to minimize compaction
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MARSHALL MACHINERY. INC.
Honcsdale, PA 717-729-7117
NICARRY EQUIPMENT INC.
Reading. PA 218-926-2441
NICHOLS FARM EQUIPMENT
Bloomsburg, PA 717-784-7731
NORTH-EAST DISTRIBUTORS
& EQUIP.
West Clifford, PA 717-222-9020
CHARLES S. SNYDER, INC.
Tamaqua, PA 717-386-8945
STANLEY’S FARM SERVICE
Klingerstown, PA 717-648-2088
BTOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE
Cochranville, PA 21S-593-2407
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Perbfuary 19, 1994-C9
Preventing
by the following means:
• Reduce tillage. Consider using
minimum tillage or no-till plant
ing practices.
• Don’t till or move equipment
(or animals) on wet soils. The dri
er, the better. If its’ too wet to till,
it’s also too wet to spread manure.
• Reduce traffic on fields. Aer
ial applications or wider equip
ment could help.
• Reduce weight of tractors and
implements. However, remember
that excessive tire slippage also
causes compaction. Tandem
wheels can distribute weight and
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STRALET FARM SUPPLY, INC.
TRACTOR PARTS COMPANY
Bloomsburg, PA 717-784-0250
UMBERGER’S OF FONTANA
Lebanon. PA 717-867-8161
C. J. WONSIDLER BROS.
Quakertown, PA 215-536-1935
New Tripoli. PA 215-767-7611
Oley, PA 215-987-6257
LESLIE G. FOGG. INC.
Bridgeton, NJ 609-935-5145
PEACH COUNTRY FORD TRACTOR
Richwood, NJ 609-589-3953
RODIO TRACTOR SALES
Hatnmonton, NJ 609-561-0141
FRANK RTMON & SONS
Washington, NJ 201-689-1464
reduce compaction.
• Increase soil organic matter.
Use cover crops, manure, crop re
sidue, mushroom compost, deep
rooted forage crops, and a rotation
cropping system.
• Improve both surface and sub
surface drainage when appropri
ate.
Most of the previous observa
tions and guidelines relating to
soil compaction were gleaned
from a presentation by Doug Bee
gle, Penn State agronomist, at our
recent Crops Days.
LR SERIES
717-292-2631
Dover, PA