Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment 3 Soil Compaction

Introduction Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are compressed, when this happens, pore size within the soil is diminished, leading to overall degradation of the soil. The higher the level of soil compaction, the lesser are the soil's porosity capabilities, with lessened porosity, the soil is unable to attain it's standard volumes of air and water. Plant growth is adversely affected with relation to the density of the soil, the more compact soil impedes growth of young plant roots, which are simply unable to penetrate the hard packed soil, combined wit the insufficient aeration of the soil due to the lessened porosity. As a result of the soils compaction, erosion becomes an issue, the dense soil hinders water infiltration so during times of high precipitation the rate at which the rain infiltrates simply cannot keep up the rate of the falling rain, this results in runoff causing erosion. In Australia, soil compaction are mainly focused in regard to agricultural operations, compaction in this area is due to wheeled and tracked farming vehicles, including tractors, sugar cane harvesters, etc. and the effects that European hooved animals have on Australia's soils, eg; cows, goats, horses, etc. Because soil compaction is detrimental to plant growth, compaction is undesirable for any farmer growing any crop, hindered crop growth is both a economical detrimental but also time consuming, soil compaction must be avoided or fixed to attain highest possible productivity. The problem investigated in this study is the extent of which soil compaction affects water infiltration, in this study, the rate of water absorption has been conducted in three areas of differing compaction levels, a low traffic area (side of amenities block), a medium traffic area (shortcut across grass) and a high Joey Kelly-Smith 12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

traffic area (tap used for washing sand off feet) The infiltration rate was measured by placing a aluminium can that both ends removed, over each site, and pouring a measured amount of water into the can and recording the amount of time it took for the water soak into the soil. The test was conducted on each grade of compacted soil three times. This procedure was undertaken at Lennox Head, in the area between the main road and the shorefront, with the soil type being sandy loam. Variable control Volume of water before each trial the 500mL of water was correctly measured with a commercial liquid measuring cup. Can size each trial was conducted with the exact same can. Depth of can the depth at which the can was placed into the soil was measured for each trial at 2cm Soil type each soil site was tested for soil type, with all sites being sandy loam

Hypothesis The higher the compaction level of the soil, the slower the rate of water infiltration. Method Materials - Aluminium tin, with ends removed - Liquid measuring cup Joey Kelly-Smith 12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

- Water, preferably have a water source close by, if unavailable be sure to have enough to carry out all the trials - Measuring cup, must be able to hold 500mL of water - Stopwatch - Soil classification sheet 1. Obtain three locations that exhibit varying degrees of compaction, ideally ones that show low, medium and high levels of compaction. Confirm that all sites are the same soil type, this can be achieved by using the soil classification sheet. 2. Once the sites have been found, remove any vegetation that will be within the aluminium tins circumference, and place the aluminium can on this site, press the aluminium can into the soil at a depth of 2cm, to ensure that no water will drain out of the can directly onto the ground. 3. Measure out 500mL of water into the measuring cup, and pour into the can which is placed firmly in the soil. 4. Once the water has entered the can, begin timing immediately, continue timing until the water has completely soaked into the soil. 5. Stop timing once all of the water has permeated the soil. 6. Repeat steps 2-5 for each individual compaction site 3 times. 7. Record results. Independent variable Degree of soil compaction Dependant variable Rate at which the water infiltrates the soil

The control/standard in this experiment is the soil site with the lowest degree of compaction, the site adjacent to the amenities block, this allows for the other sites to be compared relatively. Risk Evaluation

Joey Kelly-Smith

12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science Risk Cutting self on aluminium can, due to removed ends. Injuring self on objects beneath vegetation layer

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction Preventative Action Wear gloves if possible, be cautious with can, paying close attention to cut edges Wear gloves, take care when putting hands near exposed soil

Likelihood (1-5) 2

Results

Trial 1
Low Compaction Medium Compaction High Compaction

Trial 2 97 141 405

Trial 3 112 173 370

Average 104.6 155 388.3

105 151 350

Joey Kelly-Smith

12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

Water Infiltration time in relation to Degree of Compaction

450 400 350

Water Infiltration ime (secs)

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Low Medium High Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Degree of Compaction

Compaction Level Low Medium High

Average rate of water infiltration/sec (500mL/secs) 4.78mL/sec 3.23mL/sec 1.29mL/sec

The aluminium tin has a diameter of 13cm, so the enclosed surface area for each soil site would affected the rate at which the water would infiltrate, the higher the surface area, the higher the infiltration rate. A = x d2 | A = x 6.52 | A = 132.732cm2

Compaction Level

Rate of water infiltration per square

Joey Kelly-Smith

12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

centimetre/minute ([rate/sec x 60] / 132.732)

Low Medium High

2.16mL / cm2 / minute 1.46mL / cm2 / minute 0.58mL / cm2 / minute

Discussion The trials revealed that the water infiltrated completely into the low compaction soil site in about 104.6 seconds on average, for the site of medium compaction this was achieved in an average of 155 seconds, and lastly the high compaction site with 388.3 seconds on average. With the average rates of water infiltration calculated at 4.78mL/sec, 3.23mL/sec, and 1.29mL for the low, medium and high compaction sites respectively. The rate of water infiltration in relation to the surface area encompassed by the aluminium tin is as follows; 2.16mL per cm2 per minute for the low compaction site 1.46mL per cm2 per minute for the medium compaction site 0.58mL per cm2 per minute for the high compaction site These results indicate that with increasing levels of soil compaction, the rate at which water can infiltrate is restricted.The soil site beside the amenities block(lowest compaction), had the quickest rate of water infiltration due to the fact it was in a position out of the way for normal human traffic, due to the infrequent human traffic, the soils compaction level remains virtually unaffected, The soil site with the medium level of compaction, the shortcut on grass path showed slower rates of water infiltration in comparison to the site beside the amenities block, due to the fact that this site has a higher level of foot traffic, Joey Kelly-Smith 12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

with the path being frequented on a regular daily basis. Finally, the soil site with the highest level of compaction, in the vicinity of where people use a tap to wash their feet, displayed the slowest rates of water infiltration, this site possesed a high level of compaction due to frequent visitation combined with the fact that when the tap is being used, water soaks into the ground which lubricates the soil particles making more susceptible to compression of the people standing on top of them. In this experiment possible errors which could occur include: inaccurate timed results incorrect volume of water poured into tin inconsistency in soil types inconsistent levels of moisture in soil This experiment could be improved by assessing a larger range of compaction levels, instead of being limited to 3 sites of compaction, the level of compaction could be measured by professional compaction measuring devices which would provide more detailed readings into the level of soil compaction. The number of trials conducted could be increased to obtain a more reliable and precise measurements. Conclusion From these results it is evident that the higher the rate of soil compaction the slower the rate of water infiltration, with each compaction site decreasing in the infiltration rate as the compaction level increased. These results have adequately supported my hypothesis.

Joey Kelly-Smith

12 Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science

Assessment Task 3 Soil Compaction

Bibliography http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fieldcrops/9424.html http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils/structure/compaction http://soilhealthknowledge.com.au/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=47 http://soilhealthknowledge.com.au/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=47&limitstart=5 http://www.landcare.net.au/files/fieldguidebook/detosub.html

Joey Kelly-Smith

12 Earth and Environmental Science