Soil compaction - Articles

Investigating Soil Profiles for Signs of Compaction

By DeAnn Presley posted on November 15, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Kansas State Extension

Once you determine the depth at which the compaction occurs, you can work on solutions for improving (decreasing) the density of the compacted layer or the soil in general.

News Release

New SmartProbe App Identifies Soil Compaction

August 21, 2024 | Posted in Precision Agriculture

The new SmartProbe System features the SmartProbe app and a mounting kit that attaches a smartphone to a soil penetrometer, a device that identifies soil compaction by measuring resistance to vertical penetration.

Varying Soil & Environmental Conditions Require Alternative Planter Setups

Strip-till consultant Kevin Kimberley explains how to set up your planter for success year-after-year by being willing to adapt to changing soil and environmental conditions

By Maclaren Krueger posted on February 6, 2024 | Posted in Equipment

“Normalization of deviation,” says Kevin Kimberley, an Iowa strip-tiller with over 35 years of experience and owner of Kimberley Ag Consulting. “If you keep deviating from what’s normal over and over again, it becomes the new norm.”

Study: Massive Farm Machinery Same as Dinosaurs Walking on Field

June 3, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: World Economic Forum

A new study finds that heavy farm machines have the same impact on soil compaction as the dinosaurs who stomped on the soil millions of years ago.

[Podcast] Connecting the Conservation Tillage Dots: From Reducing Compaction to Smoking Soil

In this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Agrisolutions, we get some expert insight into how strip-tillers can protect their soil health by limiting equipment traffic and promoting biological activity underneath the surface.

July 1, 2020 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

In this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Agrisolutions, we get some expert insight into how strip-tillers can protect their soil health by limiting equipment traffic and promoting biological activity underneath the surface.

Digging Into Compaction Causes, Contributors & Solutions

March 20, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

With recent wet patterns taking their toll on many North American farm fields, agronomist Mike Petersen will present and analyze recent compaction research comparing different tillage systems and offer preventative advice at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.

Crop Rotation, Grazing Rebuilds Soil

March 7, 2018 | Posted in Soil Health

Soil gets tired. After years of supporting a rotating cast of crops, the soil’s nutrient supply is often exhausted. The tilling, turning, and planting also degrade the organic matter in the soil and its ability to stay hydrated.

Easing the Soil’s Temperature with Cover Crops

November 8, 2017 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

Research has shown that both cover crops and perennial biofuel crops can relieve soil compaction. Cover crops are generally planted between cash crops such as corn and soybeans to protect the bare soil.

4 Tips for Minimizing Soil Compaction During Harvest

September 28, 2016 | Posted in Crop Protection, Soil Health

Source: Iowa State University Extension

In wet conditions, the best choice a grower can make is to stay away from the field and avoid trafifc on wet soil to reduce soil compaction, says Iowa State University Extension.