How Heavy Machinery Impacts Crop Yields Long-Term

Mar 08, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Preventing Soil Compaction for Healthier Crops

Soil compaction, a hidden threat to agricultural productivity, is intensifying with the increasing size and weight of farm machinery. This "silent thief" reduces soil porosity, hindering root growth and ultimately impacting crop yields. While often unseen, the effects of compaction can linger for years, especially in the subsoil.

Studies reveal the long-term consequences of compaction. Fields compacted by heavy farm equipment can experience yield reductions of 15% in the first year, with a persistent 3% reduction even after ten years.

This lasting impact is primarily due to subsoil compaction, which is less responsive to natural restorative processes that alleviate surface compaction.

Ironically, tillage, a common agricultural practice, can also contribute to compaction. Repeated tillage at the same depth can form a dense layer called a plow pan, restricting root growth.

While moldboard plows are often associated with plow pans, other tillage implements can cause similar issues if used repeatedly at the same depth.

Even no-till farming, known for its soil health benefits, is not immune to compaction. Without tillage to loosen compacted layers, the weight of heavy machinery can significantly impact yields, particularly in dry conditions. Research shows that wider tires with lower pressure can help mitigate these effects.

Beyond yields, compaction disrupts the soil ecosystem. Earthworm populations decline, nutrient cycling is hindered, and water infiltration and drainage are impaired. This leads to anaerobic soil conditions, nitrogen loss, and reduced nutrient uptake.

Recognizing the multifaceted impact of soil compaction is essential for sustainable agriculture. By implementing strategies like controlled traffic farming, reduced tillage, and appropriate tire management, farmers can minimize compaction and foster healthy, productive soils.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-casarsaguru

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.