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Soil compaction

Sojka, R.E. (1993) Soil compaction. pp. 194-198. In: Proc. Winter Commodity Schools. USA-ID, 1993/01/20.

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Abstract

Strictly speaking, Soil Compaction is a REDUCTION IN SOIL PORE SPACE. When pore space is
reduced the bulk density (weight of a given volume of dry soil) increases. Soil Compaction is often
recognized and even defined (although improperly) as an increase in the "hardness" of soil. An increase
in soil strength is only one of a number of changes that occur in soil when pore space is reduced. Ordinary
soil is usually about half solid material and half pore space. At optimal field wetness, about half the pore
space is filled with water. So, the soil as it rests in your field, is about half solid material, one fourth
water, and one fourth soil-air. Some soils have more organic matter than others. In "typical" Pacific
Northwest Soils not more than one or two percent of the solid material is composed of stable organic
matter.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number: 0799
Additional Information: Sponsored by the University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System
Subjects: Soil
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:56
Last Modified: 23 Nov 2016 21:12
Item ID: 932
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/932