Seasonal dynamics in wheel load-carrying capacity of a loam soil in the Swiss Plateau

Gut, S.; Chervet, A.; Stettler, Matthias; Weisskopf, P.; Sturny, W. G.; Lamandé, M.; Schjønning, P.; Keller, T. (2014). Seasonal dynamics in wheel load-carrying capacity of a loam soil in the Swiss Plateau Soil Use and Management, 31(1), pp. 132-141. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1111/sum.12148

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Subsoil compaction is a major problem in modern agriculture caused by the intensification of agricultural production and the increase in weight of agricultural machinery. Compaction in the subsoil is highly persistent and leads to deterioration of soil functions. Wheel load‐carrying capacity (WLCC) is defined as the maximum wheel load for a specific tyre and inflation pressure that does not result in soil stress in excess of soil strength. The soil strength and hence WLCC is strongly influenced by soil matric potential (h). The aim of this study was to estimate the seasonal dynamics in WLCC based on in situ measurements of h, measurements of precompression stress at various h and simulations of soil stress. In this work, we concentrated on prevention of subsoil compaction. Calculations were made for different tyres (standard and low‐pressure top tyres) and for soil under different tillage and cropping systems (mouldboard ploughing, direct drilling, permanent grassland), and the computed WLCC was compared with real wheel loads to obtain the number of trafficable days (NTD) for various agricultural machines. Wheel load‐carrying capacity was higher for the top than the standard tyres, demonstrating the potential of tyre equipment in reducing compaction risks. The NTD varied between years and generally decreased with increasing wheel load of the machinery. The WLCC simulations presented here provide a useful and easily interpreted tool to guide the avoidance of soil compaction.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Resource-efficient agricultural production systems School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture
Name:	Gut, S.; Chervet, A.; Stettler, Matthias; Weisskopf, P.; Sturny, W. G.; Lamandé, M.; Schjønning, P. and Keller, T.
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) T Technology > T Technology (General)
ISSN:	02660032
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Language:	English
Submitter:	Simon Lutz
Date Deposited:	17 Dec 2019 11:50
Last Modified:	17 Dec 2019 11:50
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/sum.12148
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.8433
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/8433