Compacted soil affects soil macrofauna populations in a semi-arid environment in central Queensland

Mineral nitrogen dynamics following soil compaction and cultivation during hoop pine plantation establishment

“…In this study, soil moisture was significantly higher in the 1-and 16-pass than in the 0-pass treatments indicating that changes to soil physical properties may have occurred at the first pass of the vehicle. Other researchers have noted similar findings (Alakukku, 1996;Radford et al, 2001;Williamson and Neilsen, 2000). Soil moisture was highest in the dry seasons of autumn and winter 2000, a reflection of the unusually high rainfall in the preceding summer.…”

Soil compaction impact and modelling. A review

“…Bouwman and Arts (2000) reported reduction of bacterivore and omnivore nematodes while increase of herbivore nematodes in heavily compacted soils. Earthworms are also reported to be influenced by the soil compaction (Kretzschmar 1991;Radford et al 2001) and their population decreases with increase in the soil compaction (Chan and Barchia 2007), but they are capable to penetrate a soil with penetration resistance of 3,000 kPa by ingesting the soil particles (Dexter 1978).…”

Impact of mechanized harvesting on compaction of sandy and clayey forest soils: results of a meta-analysis

“…This is often accompanied by an increase of total diversity in the understorey layer due to higher habitat variation (e.g., Buckley et al 2003). Compaction may affect the soil fauna through physical damage, hindrance of movements, or a change in the food supply (e.g., Radford et al 2001) and in this way change processes such as litter decomposition and soil aggregation. The pores on sandy soils are normally too large to hold water against gravitational forces.…”