Description of practice
Wheel load carrying capacity is a measure of soil strength. Wheel load is calculated for specific tyres and inflation pressures and, to avoid soil stress, should not exceed carrying capacity. It is a useful and easily interpreted parameter for portraying compaction risk and is therefore respecting it is an effective guide for preventing soil compaction.
| Examples of how to respect the wheel load carrying capacity | Further information (see Note below) |
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Modest wheel loads and inflation pressuresModest wheel loads and tyre inflation pressures result in higher soil pore volume, lower penetration resistance and higher hydraulic conductivity than a higher wheel load. |
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Wide tyresLower weight tractors with wide tyres distribute wheel load, resulting in less soil compaction. |
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Assess risk of soil compactionTerranimo® is a computer model that predicts the risk of soil compaction by farm machinery for real operating conditions. It classifies this risk, helping the farm manager to decide on the use of agricultural machines to avoid soil structure damage. |
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Tractors on tracksTracks distribute pressure over a larger soil surface helping to avoid compaction (under dry conditions). |
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Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.