Implementation of risk assessment systems for soil compaction

Soil compaction results in major ecological and economic damage to farmers and society. This is an acute problem in modern agriculture that is expected to become even more serious as agricultural machinery becomes heavier and heavier.

Risks with soil compaction

When soil is compacted, the pore volume and pore continuity of the soil decrease. As a result, the drainage capacity of the soil and the gas exchange between the soil and the atmosphere deteriorate, and the mechanical resistance of roots and organisms such as earthworms increases, which in turn negatively affects soil ecosystem services, especially regulating services (e.g. flood control, climate control) and production services (e.g. agricultural production). Soil compaction results in major ecological and economic damage to farmers and society. Soil compaction is an acute problem in modern agriculture that is expected to become even more serious as agricultural machinery (especially tractors, combines and harvesters, fertilizer spreaders) becomes heavier and heavier. This results in an increased risk of soil compaction, especially in the subsoil (the soil below the tillage depth), which is particularly serious since subsoil compaction is considered to be almost permanent. The natural regeneration capacity of the soil is very limited in the subsoil – studies have shown that compaction damage in the subsoil persists for decades. It is therefore important to prevent soil compaction from occurring in the first place.

The main purpose of this project is to investigate whether and if so how the decision support system Terranimo® could be included in the farmer's operational planning. Terranimo® aims to clarify for the user how a particular machine affects the soil. The model is freely available at www.terranimo.se. Terranimo® is already used by farmers, advisors and machine manufacturers in various countries, mainly in Europe but also in other parts of the world.

Experience from end users

In the project, we want to investigate how different groups of potential end users experience the tool – relevance, function and usability, and then find interesting strategies for how the decision support can be used and how it could be adapted to the needs identified. What is required for Terranimo® to become a natural part of every farmer’s management and thereby contribute to reduced soil compaction? How should the information be packaged and visualized so that it is interesting to use in practice? How can the decision support be better adapted to the needs of the users? The project therefore has an interdisciplinary approach that involves researchers with knowledge in the subjects of soil science, agronomy and social science, farmers, owners of machinery stations, advisors and government representatives. Together, we want to identify opportunities and obstacles to using Terranimo® today, and come up with new solutions and ways to use and integrate Terranimo® into farmers’ farm operations.

Funding: The FORMAS project is part of an ERANET ICT-enabled agri-food systems.
Main applicant in Sweden: Thomas Keller, Department of Soil and Environment, SLU.
Project duration: 2021–2023.