Abstract
Soil compaction caused by field traffic is one of the main threats to agricultural landscapes. Compacted soils have a reduced hydraulic conductivity, lower plant growth and increased surface runoff resulting in numerous environmental issues such as increased nutrient leaching and flood risk. Mitigating soil compaction, therefore, is a major goal for a sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. To prevent undesirable effects of field traffic, it is essential to know where and when soil compaction may occur. This study developed a model for soil compaction risk assessment of arable soils at regional scale. A combination of (i) soil, weather, crop type and machinery information; (ii) a soil moisture model and (iii) soil compaction models forms the SaSCiA-model (Spatially explicit Soil Compaction risk Assessment). The SaSCiA-model computes daily maps of soil compaction risk and associated area statistics for varying depths at actual field conditions and for entire regions. Applications with open access data in two different study areas in northern Germany demonstrated the model’s applicability. Soil compaction risks strongly varied in space and time throughout the year. SaSCiA allows a detailed spatio-temporal analysis of soil compaction risk at the regional scale, which exceed those of currently available models. Applying SaSCiA may support farmers, stakeholders and consultants in making decision for a more sustainable agriculture.
Highlights
Soil compaction represents one of the main threats to soils worldwide [1]; it causes increased surface runoff, soil erosion and nutrient leaching, while infiltration rate, plant growth, root growth and biological activity decrease [2,3,4]
This study developed a model for soil compaction risk assessment of arable soils at regional scale
We developed the SaSCiA-model (Spatially explicit Soil Compaction risk Assessment) operating upon readily and freely available data and software
Summary
Soil compaction represents one of the main threats to soils worldwide [1]; it causes increased surface runoff, soil erosion and nutrient leaching, while infiltration rate, plant growth, root growth and biological activity decrease [2,3,4]. Soil compaction affects soil functionality, agricultural productivity, food security, flood risk and nutrient input to water bodies [5,6,7]. Soil compaction occurs when the exposure to field traffic exceeds soil strength [2]. It is commonly separated into topsoil and subsoil compaction. While primary tillage may reverse topsoil compaction, subsoil compaction persists in the long term [8,9]. Restoring compacted subsoil by e.g., deep loosening is cost and time-consuming; resulting unstable soil conditions prohibit wheeling with heavy machinery after loosening [10]. Preventing soil compaction, in particular subsoil compaction, is the best way to preserve soil functionality
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