Future Research Needs in Soil Compaction

Knowledge of soil compaction and the relation of soil compaction to the cropping system are important inputs for effective management of soil physical condition to improve crop production. The desired degree of compaction depends on the intended purpose; for example, the requirements for traction and mobility are quite different from those for infiltration and root propagation. Much information has been learned in the last two decades with regard to soil compaction behavior and its implications for crop production. However, significant knowledge gaps exist in the description and modeling of soil compaction behavior, in relating soil compaction behavior to agronomic responses (biological and physical) and to conservation of soil and water resources, and in describing and modeling other aspects of soil compaction so that management decisions can be made in production agriculture and conservation of natural resources. A description of the necessary coupling of the engineering mechanics aspects of soil compaction to the agronomic aspects of crop production is emphasized. Research challenges are described which must be pursued in order to provide the knowledge and models that are needed as tools in the management of compaction in soil-machine-plant systems.