Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources

In This Section

• PO 27 Health & indicators
• PO 28 Compaction
• PO 29 Compaction in Northeast USA
• PO 30 Long-term intensive crop production
• PO 31 Soil compaction factors
• PO 32 Variable susceptibility
• PO 33 Root/shoot growth, crop yield
• PO 34 Strength & water content
• PO 35 Penetrometer
• PO 36 Degradation from compaction
• PO 37 Soil compaction prevention
• PO 38 Soil compaction remediation
• Summary

Competency Area 4: Soil health and compaction

PO 30. Understand how long-term intensive crop production may cause soil compaction in the plow layer and subsoil.

Repeated and frequent tillage at the same depth with a tool such as a moldboard plow or disk will cause compaction below the tillage tool. When this is repeated year after year, a tillage pan may form. High intensity traffic at times when the soil is above the plastic limit will cause compaction. Heavy equipment such as grain carts and manure spreaders can cause subsoil compaction.