Soil Compaction: What is it?

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Soil compaction is the compression of the soil due to external pressure. The effect of soil compaction is an increase in the density of a soil and a corresponding reduction in the amount of air present in the spaces between soil particles. This process can be caused by a number of factors and can be harmful or beneficial depending on the circumstances.

When undertaking almost any construction project, soil compaction is usually done in a targeted manner. Road construction, in particular, benefits from soil compaction, as it provides a stable foundation for the roadway. Failure to compact the soil beneath a road prior to construction can lead to uneven areas developing as the soil settles and compacts from the cumulative weight of passing vehicles.

Other large construction projects often employ soil compaction for a similar reason. It provides a more stable underlying foundation on which to build the structure and helps prevent buildings from sinking into the ground under their own weight, causing the building to tilt or crack. A building or other structure may also experience other problems due to settlement, such as leaking pipes.

In natural and agricultural environments, soil compaction is a problem rather than a benefit. Soil compaction reduces the ability of a particular soil to hold water and air, both of which are important for the health and growth potential of trees and other plants. Forested areas that are harvested for timber can be slower to recover due to soil compaction from the passage of heavy equipment used in logging operations. Repeated rain or flooding can also contribute to soil compaction. This can slow down the growth of new trees that take root naturally or that are planted in the harvested area and of crops in the cultivated areas.

Farmers combat soil compaction by tilling their fields which keeps the soil loose, promoting good root growth for their crops. The presence of air pockets between the soil particles promotes root growth as they are easily able to extend into these spaces. It also improves the soil’s ability to hold moisture and to allow excess moisture to pass through and drain into the underlying subsoil and water table. The fields are worked annually because the soil gradually settles and compacts under its own mass. Compacted subsoil is common due to the mass of surface soils, but this is a natural occurrence and is not usually considered a problem, although it can make it difficult to dig holes or other excavations that penetrate compacted layers.

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