Victorian Resources Online (archived)
Changing Soil Structure
Soil Colour | Soil Particles | Bonding and Aggregation | Porosity | Changing Soil Structure | Soil Strength
Crusting | Waterlogging | Trafficability | Compaction | Cultivation/Tillage for Broadacre Cropping
Humans have considerable potential to change soil structure. The range of management actions that can change (both positively and negatively) soil structure include:
Vegetation management
- Clearing
- Stubble retention
- Fallow phases
- Pasture development
- Crop rotations
- Ley phases
- Plantations
Trafficking
- Stock treading
- Vehicle movement
- Controlled traffic
Tillage
Re-forming soils
- Laser levelling
- Raised beds
- Contour banks and terracing
- Gypsum for responsive soils
Subsoil management
- Controlled traffic
- Deeper tillage
- Primer crops (e.g. lucerne, chicory)
- Drainage
- Ameliorants (e.g. worms, gypsum)
Much change in soil structure has occurred since the arrival of European agriculture and mining brought new and intensive modifications. History has shown soil structure decline, water erosion and wind erosion are the consequences of poor management actions. Understanding the processes that lead to the degradation of soil structure provides insight into managing the soil to prevent further decline and the possibility of amending the damage done.
