We propose to select farmer fields and then document soil compaction at planting, during the season, and after soybean harvest. Briefly, we will follow a planter pass across a field, preferably across two or more different landscape positions that differ in compaction potential, in order to document intra- and inter-row compaction, seedling emergence, in-season growth, and soybean yield. With this information a concerted effect will be made after soybean harvest to address potential remedies to the various forms and degrees of soil compaction located in these soybean fields. An economic analysis will be conducted to determine the extent to which soil compaction may be limiting optimal returns to soybean production.

We plan to document potential sources of compaction created during the growing season with planter and other equipment operations. Ideally, we would like to work with one tractor/planter combination to allow us to determine how this planter combination influences compaction in different production scenarios. We would investigate compaction in two different soil types, a loess/limestone soil (e.g. Crider silt loam) and a loess/sandstone soil (e.g. Zanesville silt loam). The objective of selecting the different positions/soils is to be able to document how different soil moisture contents, within a single environment, influence compaction potential.

Data will be collected, analyzed and summarized in a final report to KSPB and utilized in extension and research presentations in Kentucky and other application venues.

Benefit to Producers This research should help producers better understand the soil conditions that lead to soil compaction, the interactions between different soil types and those conditions that lead to compaction, and the likely economic consequences of planting a field or part of a field that is compaction prone as compared to delayed planting.