Reducing the negative impact of undercarriage systems and agricultural machinery parts on soils

The article discusses the causes and consequences of excessive soil compaction. Ecological safety of the environment provides for the protection of land resources from potential negative technogenic and anthropogenic impacts. The accumulation of humus decreases due to the increasing compaction of soil. Soil compaction is a type of physical degradation. Soil degradation occurs as a result of excessive pressure. Soil compaction increases erosion. The aim of the study is to develop methods for the effective operation of mechanisms to prevent soil compaction. The negative effects of excessive soil compaction under arid conditions have been analysed. The interaction of working parts with soil should be considered as a process of deformation of a viscoelastic substance. Ways to reduce soil compaction are discussed. Perennial herbs reduce soil compaction. Deep tillage with a chisel reduces compaction by 21%. The maximum pressure of movable parts on soil at a humidity of 18.6-21.7% should not exceed 120-140 kPa. Soil compaction decreases porosity and air permeability. The optimum density of soil is 1.10-1.25 g/cm3, and the critical, not more than 1.35 g/cm3. Stresses decrease due to relaxation. Without treatment, soil density may decrease from 1.40-1.50 to 1.20-1.28 g/cm3. It is necessary to use wide tires and increase the contact patch. With the experimental tires, there is a large contact area (by 3.14%), lower maximum pressure of moving parts on soil (by 3.05%) and a decrease in the normal stress at a depth of 0.5 m (by 0.85%). In this case, the maximum stress does not exceed acceptable values.