Soil Compaction — FarmPal
Compressed soil that restricts root growth, water movement, and air exchange.
Ideal Range
Roots should be able to penetrate easily. No visible hardpan layers.
How to Test
Penetrometer (measures resistance) or dig and observe root patterns (horizontal roots indicate layers).
Improvement Strategies
- •Reduce traffic and avoid working wet soil
- •Grow deep-rooted plants (daikon radish, alfalfa)
- •Add organic matter to improve structure over time
- •Subsoil (one-time deep ripping) if severe
- •Controlled traffic farming (permanent lanes)
- •Biological tillage with roots replaces mechanical tillage