Experiences with the impact of subsoil compaction on soil, crop growth and environment and ways to prevent subsoil compaction

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 97.0442-1

Key words (English)

Subsoil compaction; physical soil protection; database; assessment techniques; critical stress

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FAIR5-CT97-3589

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.3 Biomedical/Health research

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
ETH Zürich
Institut für Terrestrische Ökosysteme
ETH Zentrum CHN F 31.1

Partners and International Organizations (English)

DLO-Staring Centre, Wageningen (NL)

Abstract (English)

In recent years, subsoil compaction caused by heavy machinery has been recognized as a major threat to the fertility of agricultural soils. In order to assess the state of scientific knowledge on subsoil compaction, its consequences for agricultural production and further impacts on the environment, as well as to identify important knowledge gaps and to coordinate further research on these topics, the concerted action adresses the following tasks:
· exchange of experience by means of workshops
· construction of a literature database
· construction of a database on results of field experiments on subsoil compactions and its impacts
· construction of a database on soil mechanical properties
· recommendation of methods and harmonization of standards and guidelines, dissemination of results by joint publications
· initiation of collaborative research.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0442-1