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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181956
Title: QUANTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SPATIAL AND VERTICAL VARIABILITY IN SOIL COMPACTION

Author
item CHUNG, SUN-OK - NAT INST AGRIC ENG, KOREA
item Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2005
Publication Date: 6/22/2005
Citation: Chung, S., Sudduth, K.A. 2005. Quantification and management of spatial and vertical variability in soil compaction. In: Eco-Friendly Precision Agriculture Research, Proceedings of the 2005 Meeting of the Korean Society of Precision Agriculture, June 22, 2005. Korean Society of Precision Agriculture, Suwon, Korea. p. 69-90.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Information on variability in soil properties is important for crop production using the concept of site-specific crop management (SSCM), which relies on point-by-point information on field conditions affecting production. Two such conditions, soil physical and chemical properties, govern the transport of nutrients and water through the soil and the amount of plant available nutrients and water. An important soil physical property, soil compaction, is caused by wheel traffic of agricultural machinery and/or tillage operations, as well as natural phenomena. Compaction is becoming a greater concern in crop production and the environment because it can have deleterious effects on growing conditions that often are difficult to remediate. Because compaction can vary considerably from point to point within fields, and also from depth to depth within the soil profile, it is important to consider quantification and management of the spatial and vertical variability in soil compaction when developing an overall SSCM plan. Techniques to quantify and manage the variability in soil compaction, or soil strength, have been developed and tested by many researchers. In this paper, the importance of soil compaction, techniques for quantification of its variability, and the concept of site-specific tillage are examined. Methods and systems to detect within-field variation in soil strength as a surrogate measure of soil compaction and related soil properties are also compared and discussed. Finally, future directions for research and development are suggested.