By Kapil Arora and Mehari Tekeste
Soil compaction caused by farm machinery and field traffic will be discussed at an upcoming Soil Compaction School event on Nov. 14. The event will cover methods to minimize compaction and mitigate any soil compaction that may have already occurred.
“Soil compaction can significantly impact crop yields, as it can push soil particles together, reducing soil infiltration capacities and increasing resistance to crop root penetration and development,” said Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “This, in turn, impacts moisture and nutrient availability to crop plants for growth and development, even under favorable weather conditions. Ten to 20 percent yield loss has been reported under unfavorable weather conditions.”
Source : iastate.edu