Soil Compaction Threat is High During Damp Fall Conditions

Oct 20, 2021

By Sjoerd Willem Duiker

Soil compaction continues to be a threat this fall because of high soil moisture content. Field work is in high gear with corn silage being wrapped up, manure being spread, and corn and soybean harvest underway. Several years ago, we did a study in continuous no-till where the entire soil surface was compacted in spring during damp conditions with one pass of a loaded, 30-ton manure truck mounted with road tires inflated to 90-100 psi. Corn yield reductions were 27% in a dry year, and 14% and 10%, respectively, in years with more favorable moisture conditions (see Figure 1).

LSW tires on tractor are one way to increase the footprint

LSW tires on tractor are one way to increase the footprint and run low tire pressure while still carrying the load. This tractor was showcased at Penn State’s recent Field Crop Clinic in Landisville. Image Credit: Andy Jackson, Skyblu Farms

This shows that root growth reduction due to compaction makes the crop more susceptible to drought because it explores a smaller volume of soil for moisture. By using wide tires inflated to 35psi the damage was reduced by half. Today, there are tires that can be run at lower pressures while still being able to carry the load. Lower tire pressure results in less surface compaction. Farmers should check with their equipment dealers to determine what is the appropriate tire pressure to run in their tractor, combine, grain cart, and manure spreader tires. Lower pressure = less compaction.

Corn yield in continuous no-till as affected by soil

Figure 1. Corn yield in continuous no-till as affected by soil compaction with a 30-ton manure truck mounted with either road tires inflated to 100 psi or wide tires inflated to 35 psi.

Source : psu.edu

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.