Impacts of soil compaction on crop yield and economic value of arable lands

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Soil and Water Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Zarghan, Iran.

2 Associate Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Institute, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Organization, AREEO, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Prof., Soil and Water Research Department, West Azerbaijan, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Uromia, Iran.

4 PhD in Soil Physics and Conservation, Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Declining crop yield and resource efficiency are the direct and indirect adverse effects of soil compaction, which affect the profitability of agricultural systems. Soil compaction impresses soil structure by reducing air-filled porosity, increasing soil bulk density and mechanical resistance, and reducing total porosity. The present review article explores the various studies focused on the effects of different tillage systems on soil compaction and their impacts on yield and economic value of land. The studies reviewed show that between 70-80% of soil compaction occurs during the first passage of agricultural machinery on land and that reduced crop yield due to soil compaction reportedly falls within the range of 5-75%. One study predicted the average financial losses due to soil compaction in Ukraine and Lithuania to be 49 and 13 euros per hectare per year, respectively. The financial cost of soil compaction caused by spreading liquid fertilizer weighing more than 18 Mg with a heavy tanker exerting a pressure of more than 200 kPa on wet soil in early spring in Canada was reportedly estimated at 30 to 300 dollars per hectare and the increase in wheel loads of agricultural machines from 1 MPa to 9 MPa in Sweden reduced the net income of agricultural land by 25%. This is while the use of a No-Tillage system has been reported to lead to economic savings, increased energy efficiency, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, which in most cases, leads to an increase in crop yield per unit area.

Keywords

References

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Land Management Journal
Volume 13, Issue 1
July 2025
Pages 59-78

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