The Biology of Soil Compaction

Presented by Jim Hoorman, Extension Educator, Cover Crops and Water Quality, The Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, OH.
View the webinar at conservationweb... to earn CEUs.
Learn about the root cause of soil compaction - lack of soil organic matter and biological activity caused by heavy tillage - and mitigation techniques to improve soil function for agricultural production.
Mitigating negative impacts of compaction can only be solved by improving habitat for microbes, allowing them to build soil aggregates. Most producers view soil compaction as a consequence of heavy equipment compressing the soil, resulting in restricted root growth, poor soil aeration, and poor drainage. Often overlooked is the loss of soil organic matter caused by tillage and the destruction of habitat favorable for soil microbes necessary to build soil aggregates and increase soil organic matter. Key to building soil micro and macro-aggregates are mycorrhizal fungi with their hyphae and organic glues that serve as the foundation for soil aggregates. Overcoming soil compaction can only be achieved by applying soil health management principles that minimize soil disturbance, increase soil microbe diversity, keep a living root growing, and maintain residue cover.