Planting season is off to a soggy start with the tremendous amount of precipitation and flooding in many areas which has only allowed growers to only plant approximately two percent of corn this far. Once the fields are dried out enough to get seeds in the ground, it will be necessary for farmers to be extra conscious of soil compaction.

One of the greatest contributors to soil compaction is soil moisture at or near field capacity. According to Iowa State University’s How and Why to Avoid Soil Compaction article, high soil moisture increases soil compaction caused by field traffic and machinery because soil moisture works as a lubricant between soil particles under the heavy pressure from equipment.

Breaking it down even further, researchers from Penn State University discovered that
-compaction in the topsoil (0 -12 in.) is related to ground contact pressure only
-compaction in the upper part of the subsoil (12-20 in.) is related to both ground contact pressure and axle load
-compaction in the lower subsoil (>20 in.) is related to axle load only

It is necessary to avoid soil compaction because your fields will have problems with higher surface runoff and soil erosion.

In addition to causing trouble to the fields, soil compaction lays the foundation for problems with plant and yield levels as well. Soil compaction can contribute to stunted plant growth, poor root system development and potential nutrient deficiencies. Effectively, decreasing your yield at harvest.

source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uc186.pdf

Ways to manage soil compaction

By minimizing your time in the field when conditions are less than ideal, you can avoid a great deal of soil compacting problems. Sometimes it is necessary though, and when you must work in the field during wet conditions, you should adjust your tire size and air pressure.

“Larger tires with lower air pressure allow for better flotation and reduce load on the soil surface,” Mahdi Al-Kaisi said in the Iowa State article. He also recommends using the same wheel tracks when possible and work with lighter loads when possible.