Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

Soil compaction i.e. reduction of the soil pore volume is a big problem within agriculture, mainly because it leads to poor aeration and increased mechanical resistance. The farmer can reduce the effects by the choice of tire equipment and tire inflation pressure. In this experiment, which was carried out in the autumn 1994, the compaction effects of some different tires (Taurus, Kleber, Michelin and Twin) and tire inflation pressures (low, recommended and high) were studied The investigation included three kinds of measurements; track depth and penetration resistance which were carried out in the field on a 10am soil and soil stress which was carried out in doors on coarse, dry sand. The results from the measurements, partly in the field and partly on coarse sand, pointed in the same direction. The tire inflation pressure had a very large influence on the track depth, penetration resistance and soil stress. The influence of tire inflation pressure and tire type decreased with depth. Low profile tires reduced compaction mainly by allowing the use of a lower tire inflation pressure. Trelleborg TWIN which is a crossply tire resulted in a higher pressure in the soil than tires of radial type. This is probably caused by the design of the crossply tire, which gives more stiff tire sides than for radial tires.