soil compaction
Earth pressing together
Soil compaction is the compression of soil particles, reducing pore space and increasing density.
It occurs naturally over time or artificially through foot traffic, vehicle weight, or construction equipment.
Compacted soil drains poorly, resists root penetration, and limits plant growth.
Farmers and gardeners work to avoid or reverse it: The clay soil suffered from years of compaction.
Resistance to deformation
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- hardpanImpenetrable subsurface stratum
- porosityVoid space density
resistance · stiffness · permeability · clayey · loamy · saturation
Compacting by repeated pressure
- rollerRotating cylindrical tool
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- subgradeSoil layer supporting pavement
- backfillReplacing excavated material
grading · earthwork · excavation · vibratory · rammer · bulldozer · pneumatic · trench
Soil preparation for planting
- drainageLiquid removal system
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- crop yieldAgricultural production amount
- no-tillUndisturbed-soil cultivation
waterlogging · infiltration · porosity · cover crops · growing season · cultivation
firmness
Resistance to deformation
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- hardpanImpenetrable subsurface stratum
porosity · resistance · stiffness · permeability · clayey · loamy · saturation
tamping
Compacting by repeated pressure
- rollerRotating cylindrical tool
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- subgradeSoil layer supporting pavement
backfill · grading · earthwork · excavation · vibratory · rammer · bulldozer · pneumatic · trench · geotechnical
tillage
Soil preparation for planting
- drainageLiquid removal system
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- crop yieldAgricultural production amount
no-till · waterlogging · infiltration · porosity · cover crops · growing season · cultivation