Vulnerability of subsoils in Europe to compaction: a preliminary analysis

摘要: Abstract Identifying the vulnerability of subsoils to compaction damage is an increasingly important issue both in planning and execution farming operations environmental protection measures. Ideally, subsoil should be assessed by direct measurement soil bearing capacity but currently no practical tests are available. Similarly, mechanics principles not suitably far enough advanced allow extrapolation likely from experimental sites situations general. This paper, therefore, proposes a simple classification system for based field use on local wetness data at time critical trafficking, and, European level, related climatic information. Soil readily available ‘in Country’ or Database stored agrometeorological database MARS Project. The using two-stage process. First, inherent susceptibility estimated basis relatively stable properties texture packing density. Second, class then converted into through consideration moisture status loadings. For adjustments suggested take account possible differences support strength topsoil specific structural conditions. classes proposed profile pit observations, wide range soils examined mainly intensively farmed areas where large-scale equipment employed. A map Europe has been produced, as first stage developing more rigorous quantitative approach assessing overall than hitherto.