Soil compaction may threaten the success of agri-environment schemes. To understand the distribution of soil compaction, its causes, and identify methods to alleviate it, this Defra funded project surveyed compaction at 300 grasslands in England and Wales, assessing management and soil structure. Practical measures to mitigate compaction (mechanical and plants) were be identified and their impact explored through field experiments. Also the impacts on vegetation, water, invertebrates, birds, soil carbon and N2O flux .
Project details
| Start date | 2009-07-06 |
|---|---|
| End date | 2014-10-31 |
| Project spend | £699,732.00 |
Project outputs
This project produced the following outputs:
| Output | Type |
|---|---|
| Final report | Defra publication |
Closing statement
The main findings are:
- Grassland with deeper top soil where the compaction is deeper below the surface may be more of an issue than soils with less top soil where the compaction is closer to the surface.
- Compacted soils are not limited to ‘improved’ grasslands.
- It is essential that soils are assessed for the degree and depth of the compaction before any mechanical loosening is carried out.