Copyright ©  2001  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I: SOIL COMPACTION - CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCE....	....3
What is soil compaction? Myths about soil compaction What are the consequences of soil compaction for plant growth? What causes soil compaction? Effect of soil moisture and axle load on depth of compaction
SECTION II: SURFACE COMPACTION....	....7
Density effects due to tillage Plant response to surface compaction Erosion
SECTION III: SUBSOIL COMPACTION....	....10
Plant response to subsoil compaction
SECTION IV: CONTROL....	....11
Avoidance Tracks vs. Tires Alleviation Subsoiling Controlled Traffic Acceptance
SUMMARY....	....14
REFERENCES....	....15

About the Authors Jodi DeJong-Hughes is an Extension Educator for Northwest Minnesota with the University of Minnesota West Central Research/Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota. John Moncrief is an Extension Soil Scientist - Tillage, Department of Water, Soils & Climate, University of Minnesota Extension Service. W. B. Voorhees is a Soil Scientist with the North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, at Morris, Minnesota. J. B. Swan is a retired Extension Soil Scientist, University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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