What are the effects of Subsoil Compaction?

Pasture roots growing horizontally rather than vertically is a sure sign of subsoil compaction. The hardened soils below deny the roots access to extra moisture and nutrients, decreasing plant survivability and losing potential growth.

Ponding of water on the soil's surface and waterlogged, boggy soils are often a telltale sign of poor subsoil drainage. Deep ripping aeration allows for speedy drainage of excess moisture through any hard packed pans that may exist.

Inevitably when soils are compacted, fertiliser response drops and runoff & evaporation increase. When soil macroporosity is depleted, the fertiliser can no longer wash down into the root zone of the plants due to the relative impenetrability of the soil.

Areas of productive ground that there is noticeably less yield from could be areas of compacted soils.

The presence of large clods of soil after tillage can indicate the compaction of soils, as the hard packed ground is much more resistant to crumbling with the absence of soil macropores.