Soil Compaction Research Articles

Effect of Water Content and Degree of Compaction of Clay Subgrade Soil on the Interface Shear Strength Using Geogrid

Pavement performance in clay soil roads can be enhanced with the help of the geogrid concept by increasing lateral confinement, bearing capacity, and overall rigidity of the pavement. Also, geogrid is useful in minimizing vertical and lateral pavement deformations. In this study, 65 tests are performed without and with two types of geogrid, and the aim behind it is to investigate the effect of the moisture content and degree of compaction of clay soil on the interface shear strength. The number of materials used to conduct this study, included subbase granular (type B), clay subgrade soil, the Biaxial and SS2 geogrid which is used as a reinforcing material. Testing the direct shear is conducted by a large-scale direct shear manufactured device contains an upper box with side lengths of (20×20×10) cm, and a lower box with side lengths of (20×25×10) cm. Results show that for all tests the normal applied stresses are 25, 50, 75 and 100 kPa, the shear stress displacement curves for all cases follow similar trends and they are affected by normal stress, density and water content of subgrade soil and type of geogrid. Also, it is obvious that the shear stress increases by increasing the normal applied stress and degree of compaction of clay subgrade soil reaching its maximum value at 95% degree of compaction while it decreases by increasing the water content of subgrade soil. The maximum value of shear strength is observed when water content is equal to 8% (dry side) and finally, the Biaxial geogrid BX1100 (G1) is more efficient in reinforcing clay-subbase interface as compared with SS2 geogrid (G2).

The structure and function of rhizosphere bacterial communities: impact of chemical vs. bio-organic fertilizers on root disease, quality, and yield of Codonopsis pilosula.

Long-term use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) can cause soil compaction and acidification. In recent years, bio-organic fertilizers (BOFs) have begun to replace CFs in some vegetables and cash crops, but the application of CFs or BOFs has resulted in crop quality and disease occurrence. This study aimed to analyze the microbial mechanism of differences between CFs and BOFs in root disease, quality, and yield of tuber Chinese herbal medicine. We studied the effects of CFs, organic fertilizers, commercial BOFs, biocontrol bacteria BOFs, and biocontrol fungi BOFs on rhizosphere microbial community structure and function, root rot, quality, and yield of Codonopsis pilosula at different periods after application and analyzed the correlation. Compared to CFs, the emergence rate and yield in BOF treatments were increased by 21.12 and 33.65%, respectively, and the ash content, water content, and disease index in the BOF treatments were decreased by 17.87, 8.19, and 76.60%, respectively. The structural equation model showed that CFs promoted the quality and yield of C. pilosula by influencing soil environmental factors, while BOFs directly drove soil bacterial community to reduce disease index and improve the quality and yield of C. pilosula. There was a stronger interaction and stability of soil microbial networks after BOF treatments. Microlunatus, Rubrobacter, Luteitalea, Nakamurella, and Pedomicrobium were identified as effector bacteria, which were related to disease prevention and yield and quality increase of C. pilosula. Microbial functional analysis indicated that the signal transduction and amino acid metabolism of soil bacteria might play a major role in improving the quality and yield of C. pilosula in the early and middle growth stages. In conclusion, compared to CFs, BOFs obtained a lower disease index of root rot and a higher quality and yield of C. pilosula by changing the structure and function of the rhizosphere bacterial community.

The productivity of selected soybean cultivars grown using various cultivation methods

Soybean is an important legume crop globally due to its rich protein, oil content, and functional components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yield of selected soybean cultivars depending on cultivation methods. The three-year field experiment, conducted from 2018 to 2020 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Kępa-Puławy, Osiny farm (Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Puławy), investigated these variations. The first experimental factor was the soil cultivation method: A – conventional tillage, B – reduced tillage, and C – strip tillage. The second variable was soybean cultivar: ‘Aldana’ and ‘Merlin’. The soybean cultivars were selected for their differing maturity rates: ‘Aldana’ (000) is an early cultivar, while ‘Merlin’ (000++) semi-late cultivar. The field experiment utilised a split-plot design on Luvisol soil with sandy loam texture, belonging to a good rye complex, class IIIb–IVa, and was replicated four times. The study showed that the productivity (seed and protein yield) of the ‘Merlin’ cultivar grown in the central-eastern part of Poland was approximately 8% higher than that of the ‘Aldana’ cultivar. The cultivation method had a relatively minor influence on soybean yield, the content of selected nutrients, morphological features, and elements of the yield structure. The soil in strip-tillage method was more compact than the soil cultivated with a plough. After harvesting soybeans at a depth of 30, and 40 cm, the compactness of soil in strip-tillage or with reduced tillage was much lower than in spring, highlighting a positive effect of soybean cultivation on loosening the arable layer.

Susceptibility to Translational Landslides in Ecuador Caused by Changes in Electrical Permittivity of Andepts Soils Using Software-Defined Radar for Detection

Landslides are widespread and global geological disasters, affecting millions of people and causing numerous deaths each year. Despite technological advances, it is still difficult to accurately prevent landslides. Due to its geography and climatic conditions, Ecuador has been significantly affected by landslides, and the city of Penipe remains one of the most affected. For this reason, a low-cost SDRadar system was designed to detect translational landslide risk levels by measuring the electrical permittivity of Andepts subtype soils. Controlled laboratory tests were performed with soil samples to relate permittivity values to landslide risk levels, and subsequently field tests were carried out in Penipe to determine the efficiency of the methodology. The results showed that moderate humidity is important for soil compaction, regardless of the degree of sloping. However, with permittivity values lower than 1.5 or higher than 20, the risk of landslides is very high on slopes greater than 45°. These results were compared with records of the serious landslides that occurred in June 2024 in Ecuador, in which rainfall intensity values similar to those obtained in this study were recorded, suggesting that this system can prevent future disasters.

The Integration of Land Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Practices in Sustainable Food Systems of Africa: A Systematic Review

Land degradation poses a significant global challenge, adversely affecting soil quality and diminishing the productivity of arable land, which, in turn, impacts food production and ecosystem services. This degradation manifests in various forms, including soil compaction, salinity, nutrient depletion, loss of biodiversity, and contamination, ultimately rendering soil unproductive and exacerbating climate change. Given the challenges arising from conventional farming practices and climate change, there is an urgent necessity to develop agricultural systems that not only enhance agronomic efficiency but also improve environmental performance. This study focuses on addressing food security in Africa by investigating the role of land restoration and biodiversity in sustainable food systems through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis for documents between 2010 to 2023, identifying 64 relevant documents. The analysis reveals insights into the most-cited documents and thematic evolution, underscoring the significant contributions from Ethiopia and advocating for collaborative efforts among African nations. Key themes identified include “climate change”, “food security”, “biodiversity conservation”, and “agroecosystems”, all highlighting the importance of sustainable agricultural practices. The study anticipates a continued prioritization of agroecosystems, smart agriculture, and biodiversity conservation to tackle food security challenges in the face of climate change. Collaboration, investment in research, and practical initiatives emerge as essential components for achieving sustainable food security and mitigating climate change impacts in Africa. This research provides valuable insights into the current landscape and future trends regarding the contributions of land restoration and biodiversity to food systems in Africa, emphasizing the critical need for concerted efforts to address these pressing issues.

Soil density specification ranges to optimise plant water use and root growth for phytocapping and urban greening projects

Soil density or compaction is one of the key variables that need to be specified for designed soil profiles as part of urban greening. Examples include land rehabilitation (mining), waste containment (phytocapping), stormwater infrastructure (bioretention basins) and green infrastructure (green roofs and street trees). This study investigates the impact of a range of specified soil densities on plant water use and root development. Native Australian plant species selected for the study include: the C4 and C3 grasses, Themeda triandra and Microlaena stipoides respectively; the Eucalyptus trees, E. camaldulensis and E. cladocalyx; and the nitrogen-fixing pioneer trees, Acacia mearnsii and Allocasuarina verticillata. The plants were established at four soil density (compaction) levels: 72, 77, 82, and 87 % MDD (maximum dry density) in tall cylinders with weekly plant water use measurement over 8 months. Root growth was analysed using WinRhizo image analysis. The experimental results were used to create generalisable models for root length density (RLD), root diameter and plant water use. The models for RLD and plant water use were parabolic in nature, revealing clear optimum ranges that could be used to guide soil density specification. Root diameter provided additional insight into the allocation of resources to root thickening above a threshold soil density of 87 % MDD, indicating plant allocation of resources towards penetrating highly compacted soils. There were correlations between plant water use and RLD that were moderate and significant, particularly for grasses. Notably, T. triandra had the greatest mean RLD, thickest roots and plant water use at 16.8cm/cm3, 0.18 mm and 10mm/week, respectively. Findings demonstrate that RLD and plant water use can be optimised together within practically achievable soil density specification ranges that are sensitive to the pitfalls of both excessively low and excessively high soil densities. Recommended soil density specification ranges include: 75–82 % MDD with plant performance within 5 % of optimum (considered excellent), 74–84 % MDD with plant performance within 10 % of optimum (considered good) and 73–85 % MDD with plant performance within 15 % of optimum (considered fair). Within these ranges, plant water use and root growth performance is well balanced with practical achievement of the soil density ranges. Due to the use of %MDD, the modelled results can be usefully generalised for any soil type. Implementation of these specifications for urban greening and phytocap projects will optimise plant growth, transpiration and hydrological function while maintaining root networks essential for establishing and maintaining resilient living infrastructure.

Fatigue Behavior of H-Section Piles under Lateral Loads in Cohesive Soil

Most structures supporting solar panels are found on thin-walled metal piles partially driven into the ground, optimizing costs and construction time. These pile foundations are subjected to repetitive lateral loads from various external forces, such as wind, which can compromise the integrity of the pile-soil system. Given that the expected operational lifespan of photovoltaic solar plants is generally 20–30 years, predicting their service life under fatigue loads is crucial. This research analyzes the response of H-section piles to lateral fatigue loads in cohesive rigid soils through four field tests, subjected to load cycles of 55%, 72%, and 77% of the static failure load, corresponding to maximum loads of 25 kN, 32 kN, and 35 kN, respectively. Additionally, the effect of load cycles on the degradation of pile-soil adhesion is studied through two pull-out tests following cyclic tests. This study reveals that soil fatigue does not occur under repetitive loads and that soil stiffness remains constant once the cycles causing soil compaction have been overcome. Nevertheless, the accumulated plastic deflection of the soil increases steadily once soil compaction occurs due to cyclic loading. The implications of these results on the fatigue life of photovoltaic solar panel foundations are discussed.

ASSESSING SOIL MECHANICAL RESISTANCE AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS AND COMPACTATION MAPPING AT EFFECTIVE ROOT ZONE

ASSESSING SOIL MECHANICAL RESISTANCE AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS AND COMPACTATION MAPPING AT EFFECTIVE ROOT ZONE

Influence of Red Mud on Swelling-shrinkage and Mechanical Performance of Compacted Expansive Soil

Influence of Red Mud on Swelling-shrinkage and Mechanical Performance of Compacted Expansive Soil

Pore Structures in Detritusphere of Soils Under Switchgrass and Restored Prairie Vegetation Community

ABSTRACTRoot detritusphere, that is, the soil in the vicinity of decomposing root residues, plays an important role in soil microbial activity and C sequestration. Pore structure (size distributions and connectivity of soil pores) in the detritusphere serves as a major driver for these processes and, in turn, is influenced by the physical characteristics of both soil and roots. This study compared pore structure characteristics in the root detritusphere of soils of contrasting texture and mineralogy subjected to > 6 years of contrasting vegetation: monoculture switchgrass and polyculture prairie systems. Soil samples were collected from five experimental sites in the US Midwest representing three soil types. Soil texture and mineralogy were measured using a hydrometer and x‐ray powder diffraction, respectively. The intact cores were scanned with x‐ray computed micro‐tomography to identify visible soil pores, biopores, and particulate organic matter (POM). We specifically focused on pore structure within the detritusphere around the POM of root origin. Results showed that the detritusphere of coarser textured soils, characterized by high sand and quartz contents, had lower porosity in the vicinity of POM compared with finer textured soils. POM vicinities in finer textured soils had high proportions of large (> 300 μm diameter) pores, and their pores were better connected than in the coarser soils. Lower porosity in the outer (> 1 mm) parts of the detritusphere of switchgrass than of prairie suggested soil compaction by roots, with the effect especially pronounced in the coarser soils. The results demonstrated that soil texture and mineralogy played a major, while vegetation played a more modest, role in defining the pore structure in the root detritusphere.

Constitutive relationship of soil in contact with mortar under continuous loading

Mortars will remain critical in future land wars due to their flexibility and versatility. When mortars are fired continuously, the contact soil is gradually compacted by the mortar base plate, and dynamic research into this process is the basis for innovative mortar design. However, the discontinuity and nonlinearity of soil contact absolutely necessitate the constitutive relationship of soil contact, which is difficult to study. Therefore, this study conducted experimental research and theoretical derivation to establish an accurate dynamic model of the mortar system. First, based on the nonlinear elastic–plastic theory and the stress–strain relationship of soil under cyclic loading, a theoretical analysis method for the constitutive relationship of contact soil under continuous loading was proposed. Second, an experimental and testing system was designed to simulate launch loads, and the stress–strain response of soil under continuous impact loads was obtained experimentally. Subsequently, based on theoretical analysis and experimental data, the stress–strain relationship during the gradual compaction of soil was established using the least squares method. Finally, a constitutive relationship model of the contact soil in the mortar system was established in ABAQUS using the VUMAT subroutine interface, and the calculated results were compared and analyzed with traditional calculation results. The results indicated that studying the constitutive relationship of mortar in contact with soil during continuous firing using this method can improve the accuracy of dynamically modeling mortar systems. Moreover, this study has practical value in the engineering design of mortar systems.

Electrokinetic remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil using polarity reversal method: Optimization analysis and mechanism exploration

Electrokinetic remediation (EKR) has been applied for in-situ removal of Cd from contaminated soil, and the EKR enhanced with polarity reversal has achieved a higher Cd removal efficiency. However, the migration and accumulation mechanisms of Cd in the EKR process have not been investigated. In this paper, the cross-impacts of the voltage gradient, citric acid concentration in the electrolyte, and polarity reversal frequency on the removal efficiency by EKR of Cd and the optimization conditions were investigated. The migration and accumulation mechanisms of Cd were explored by analyzing the changes in electrokinetic process parameters, experimental phenomena, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of Cd reached 82.26%. The optimal conditions were determined by fitting the RSM model using the BBD design. In the EKR experiment with polarity reversal, Cd accumulated mainly in the middle part of the soil, attributed to the formation of chemical precipitation focusing area caused by soil pH transition, ion-induced potential gradient well trapping effect (IIPGWTE), or soil compaction induced by water loss. In conclusion, the various parameters have cross-impacts on the EKR of Cd-contaminated soil, and efficient in-situ removal of Cd from the contaminated soil can be achieved by adjusting the parameter conditions.

Barriers of adopting sustainable soil management practices for organic and conventional farming systems

There is a general consensus among stakeholders about the benefits of sustainable soil management practices for soil health, yet their implementation lags behind expectations. The aim of this paper is to analyse factors supporting or hindering the implementation of sustainable soil management practices in conventional and organic farming systems. This is achieved using a Logit model, based on penalized maximum likelihood estimation on survey data by 76 farmers from 10 federal states in Germany. Affected factors were categorized in two main groups: agricultural soil management practices, and barriers to their implementation. The measures for soil improving agricultural management included (I) structural landscape elements, (II) organic fertilization, (III) diversified crop rotation, (IV) permanent soil cover (V) conservation tillage, (VI) reduced weight pressure, and (VII) optimized timing of wheeling. Results show differences in preferences between conventional and organic farmers for key sustainable soil management practices, including conservation tillage, optimized wheeling timing, reduced weight pressure, and diversified crop rotation. Economic constraints decrease crop rotation diversification in conventional systems by 14%. Conservation tillage raises the chance of a farm being conventional by 16%, while optimizing wheeling timing reduces it by 60%, highlighting soil compaction concerns among organic farmers. Marginal effects confirm that economic factors, not knowledge, are the main barriers to sustainable soil management. Inconsistent policies, lack of support, and insufficient financial incentives from government institutions can hinder the willingness of farmers to adopt these practices, further exacerbating the barriers to adoption.

Deep learning-based inversion of soil and rock compaction density utilizing Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and Surface Waves

Methods relying on a single dynamic parameter to estimate the material density for the compaction quality testing of earth-rock dams and roadbed projects, present certain limitations in terms of applicability, testing accuracy, and work efficiency. The theory of elastic wave propagation reveals that the compaction density of the medium results from the combined interaction of multiple material properties. This study proposes a method that utilizes the transient surface wave method and a vehicle-mounted Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) to jointly enhance the accuracy of soil and rock material compaction detection. The transient surface wave method is employed to extract surface wave velocity and compressional wave velocity. The analysis of the FWD signal involves extracting dynamic parameters closely related to material density, including stiffness coefficients, central frequencies, and stiffness impedances, from time-domain, frequency-domain, and mechanical impedance analyses. A fully connected deep neural network is introduced to intelligently estimate the compaction density. The deep learning model is optimized by selecting the optimal activation function and optimization algorithm, as well as additional tuning. Extensive testing shows that deep learning model produce results closely approximating the true compaction density values. The average relative errors for the wet density and the dry density are 2.9% and 2.85%, respectively, meeting the quality control requirements for density testing. The proposed approach enables rapid detection and control of the compaction quality of soil and rock materials, providing a new method for the in-situ rapid detection of compaction quality.

Sustaining Soil Health in High Tunnels: A Paradigm Shift toward Soil-centered Management

This review was conducted to synthesize current knowledge, learn producer and Extension specialist perspectives, and identify gaps in understanding of the role of soil health in sustaining production in high tunnel (HT) systems. This synthesis includes findings from scholarly resources related to soil health in HTs, including research and Extension-based literature, perspectives from experienced HT producers and technical assistance providers, and the direct observations of a broad network of university research and Extension personnel working with HTs. Findings are intended to identify knowledge gaps and additional research and Extension resource needs of greatest priority to the HT producer community and technical assistance providers that support them at the time of publication. A review of 68 research articles and 58 Extension resources was conducted. Focus group interviews were conducted with small groups of experienced HT farmers in four regions of the eastern half of the United States, with in-depth farm case studies conducted in individual farmers in three of these regions. Growers across regions identified soil fertility management, soilborne diseases, soil compaction, and lack of consistency of soil analyses specific to HTs as the greatest soil-related challenges to HT production. Research and resources for technical assistance providers on mitigation strategies to remediate yield-limiting HT soil conditions, such as excessive soil salinity and high pathogen populations, were also lacking. As such, process-based research on techniques such as leaching, soil steaming, solarization, and anaerobic soil disinfestation in tunnels that consider short- and long-term costs, benefits, and effects on soil and plant productivity should be prioritized in the future when considering the impact of HT production on soil health. Interviews also indicated a need for networking opportunities for technical assistance providers across agencies (e.g., Natural Resources Conservation Service, Extension, nongovernmental organizations). Despite a high and increasing rate of adoption, there is currently a lack of information about maintaining HT systems. Given that HTs play a critical and growing economic role for specialty crop growers throughout the eastern United States, comprehensive intervention across the research–Extension spectrum to sustain productivity in HT systems is recommended.

Resilience underground: Understanding earthworm biomass responses to land use changes in the tropics

Soil biodiversity, like terrestrial biodiversity, is currently under threat by changes in land use. Intensively managed farming activities with agrochemicals have degraded both soil biodiversity and health. However, little is known about how these changes in land use affect the distribution of earthworm biomass in Southeast Asia. We conducted earthworm sampling across multiple habitats, including lowland forests, exotic monoculture plantations (e.g., oil palm and rubber tree), and agroforestry orchards. To survey earthworm populations, we excavated the top 30 cm of soil at 18 sites encompassing 399 plots distributed across natural and human-modified ecosystems in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia. We found that earthworm abundance was negatively related to increasing soil compaction, leaf litter weight, soil pH, and undergrowth height, whereas it was positively associated with increasing undergrowth and canopy cover. Our findings demonstrated that agroforestry orchards, rubber tree plantations, and mature oil palm plantations had higher earthworm abundance than those in logged lowland forests. Earthworm abundance in unlogged lowland forests and young oil palm plantations, on the other hand, was lower than in logged lowland forests. Overall earthworm weight was greater in rubber tree plantations, agroforestry orchards, mature oil palm plantations, and unlogged lowland forests than those in logged lowland forests, while young oil palm plantations exhibited lower earthworm weight than logged lowland forests. Our data indicate that increases in soil compaction and leaf litter weight were associated with decreased earthworm weight. These results demonstrate the importance of site-level habitat management for maintaining healthy earthworm populations and soil biodiversity.

Segmental retention models for representing the hydraulic properties of evolving structured soils

AbstractCommon parametrizations of soil hydraulic properties rely on unimodal curves, which cannot accurately represent the properties of many macroporous, aggregated, mixed, or compacted soils. Multimodal hydraulic curves are increasingly used to represent these structured soils in eco‐hydrological models, but the dynamics of the processes that shape soil structure—and the resulting dynamics of soil hydraulic properties—are often neglected. In cases such as compaction recovery, where the structure‐shaping process can be modeled, coupling the evolving pore volumes to soil hydraulic properties in a physically based way remains challenging. Here, we show how modeled or estimated soil structure evolution, when expressed as a time series of porosities in a few pore size classes, can be assimilated into established models of soil hydraulic properties. Our method relies on the division of retention models into smooth segments, whose water contents can be independently adjusted. We apply the approach to examples of modeled soil structure evolution from the published literature: one describing soil structure recovery after compaction and one describing structure formation as a result of organic amendment. In the cases considered, the estimated soil hydraulic conductivity varies more strongly than the modeled porosity which drives it. This shows that transport‐related soil functions can be impacted longer (after compaction) or sooner (after amendment) than suggested by the evolution of structural metrics such as porosity. In general, modeling the evolution of soil hydraulic properties in cases such as these paves the way for holistic, process‐based modeling of land management practices and their impact on soil functioning.

Optimizing Soil Compaction Under Real-World Conditions and the Impact of Soil Moisture on Rammer Performance

Optimizing Soil Compaction Under Real-World Conditions and the Impact of Soil Moisture on Rammer Performance

RESULTS OF COMPARISON TESTS FOR CHOOSING THE TYPE OF ROLLER

The article presents the results of the experimental studies on determining the optimal values of the roller of the plowed land and selecting its type on the basis of this. In experimental studies, the provision of complete processing of the field surface is ensured mainly by the selection of the type of roller and the planer for installation on the roller, in order to obtain the required level of moisture for seed germination according to agrotechnical requirements. it is noted that there are gear-plate, rod working parts. In order to verify these obtained results, we made plate, gear-plate, and rod coils, which have a constant diameter, and conducted experimental studies using them. In experimental studies, after using different rollers with a constant diameter, the influence of soil compaction, density and tensile strength was studied. In order to reduce the influence of various variable factors on the obtained results, the experiments were carried out on a specially prepared agro background, that is, it was first plowed and then leveled. In order to test the theoretically based parameters of the roller selected for conducting experimental studies in field conditions, the bases of the roller with a coverage width of 1.5 m and fixed-diameter bases with slats, toothed-slats, and wire plates to be installed on them were developed. released and prepared. Based on the results of experimental studies, the following can be noted: in order to ensure that the compaction quality and density of the soil meet the agrotechnical requirements, and to ensure that the rolling resistance is minimal, it is necessary to have a gear-plate roller.

Stormwater retention performance of tree integrated infiltration trenches designed for suburban streetscapes

The volume of stormwater generated by streetscapes in cities is a primary driver of urban stream degradation. Large infiltration trenches can be integrated into streetscapes to potentially retain large volumes of runoff and increase growth rates of nearby trees. To test this, a field study was conducted where three structural soil infiltration trenches receiving runoff (12 m long, 0.6 m wide and 0.6 deep) were installed alongside a carpark in Melbourne, Australia, with sizing determined by space constraints in a typical streetscape. The three structural soil trenches had raised outflow drainage, which created internal water storage for runoff received from a carpark. To separate the effects on tree growth of i) the presence of structural soil from ii) passive irrigation into the structural soil, three structural soil trenches (6 m long, 0.6 m wide and 0.6 deep) not receiving runoff and without outflow drainage were also installed. Runoff capture, exfiltration, outflow and tree growth was monitored over 19 months. Only one system performed close to the design intent and retained 18 % of runoff, due to slow soil exfiltration rates (<0.1 mm h−1). Compacted soil generated pervious-area runoff that filled the structural soil trenches not receiving impervious-area runoff from the carpark. Tree growth near these structural soil trenches was poor (59 % relative growth) compared with trees receiving runoff from the carpark (112 % relative growth), due to a lack of drainage, emphasising the need for drainage of stormwater systems in heavy textured soils to promote tree growth. This study highlights that options for creating storage for stormwater in streetscapes have the potential to meet local runoff infiltration targets. However, meeting local runoff volume reduction targets will require alternative ways to reduce surface runoff.