4: On-farm management options for soil compaction (continued) Management Approximate cost Longevity Mechanism Suitable locations Likelihood Associated benefits/ option and soils of success/ drawbacks reliability Shallow ripping $250/tine (few $/ha Annual, if traffic is not longer points on the seeder to dig Suitable on most High Soil may be more susceptible to compaction if not over cropping controlled; longer if traffic is deeper to about 15cm compacted (provided carefully managed program) controlled tine Can large area with a small Increased risk of wind and water erosion breakout is change in productivity compared with Management needed to limit recompaction high deep ripping where a small area is If compaction is very deep, production will be limited enough) treated for a large return by underlying compaction Soil inversion $100–120/ha + Lasts until recompacted Breaks up layers of compacted soils Deep sandy earths, High Reduction of weed burden significant cost in through machinery to a depth of 30–35cm pale deep sands and Incorporation of lime or clay or other soil amendments, time movement sandy gravels although buried in layer and not mixed well Some sands self-compact Should not be used Overcome soil water repellence under wetting and drying on shallow duplex or Potential increase in wind and erosion soils with abundant Difficulty of seeding into loose soil rock or cemented Exposure of low pH soils gravel Crusting and surface sealing if higher clay content subsoil is brought to the surface Management needed to limit recompaction and deeper compaction can remain below the ploughing depth. Rotary spading $150/ha + significant Lasts until recompaction Breaks up layers of compacted soils Deep sandy earths, High Incorporation of lime, clay or other soil amendments cost in time through machinery to a depth of 25cm pale deep sands and Reduction in weed burden movement sandy gravels Overcoming soil water repellence Should not be used Increased risk of wind and water erosion on shallow duplex or Some sands self-compact Difficulty of seeding into loose soil soils with abundant under wetting and drying Management needed to limit recompaction rock or cemented gravel Deep compaction can remain below the depth of spading, which may need to be removed by deeper ripping. Gypsum Dependent on soil Stabilises soil aggregation Use on sodic soils Moderate characteristics and Not effective on sand management
4: On-farm management options for soil compaction (continued) Management option Approximate cost Longevity Mechanism Suitable locations and soils Likelihood of success/ reliability Associated benefits/ drawbacks Shallow ripping $250/tine (few $/ha over cropping program) Annual, if traffic is not controlled; longer if traffic is controlled longer points on the seeder to dig deeper to about 15cm Can large area with a small change in productivity compared with deep ripping where a small area is treated for a large return Suitable on most compacted High (provided tine breakout is high enough) Soil may be more susceptible to compaction if not carefully managed Increased risk of wind and water erosion Management needed to limit recompaction If compaction is very deep, production will be limited by underlying compaction Soil inversion $100–120/ha + significant cost in time Lasts until recompacted through machinery movement Some sands self-compact under wetting and drying Breaks up layers of compacted soils to a depth of 30–35cm Deep sandy earths, pale deep sands and sandy gravels Should not be used on shallow duplex or soils with abundant rock or cemented gravel High Reduction of weed burden Incorporation of lime or clay or other soil amendments, although buried in layer and not mixed well Overcome soil water repellence Potential increase in wind and erosion Difficulty of seeding into loose soil Exposure of low pH soils Crusting and surface sealing if higher clay content subsoil is brought to the surface Management needed to limit recompaction and deeper compaction can remain below the ploughing depth. Rotary spading $150/ha + significant cost in time Lasts until recompaction through machinery movement Some sands self-compact under wetting and drying Breaks up layers of compacted soils to a depth of 25cm Deep sandy earths, pale deep sands and sandy gravels Should not be used on shallow duplex or soils with abundant rock or cemented gravel High Incorporation of lime, clay or other soil amendments Reduction in weed burden Overcoming soil water repellence Increased risk of wind and water erosion Difficulty of seeding into loose soil Management needed to limit recompaction Deep compaction can remain below the depth of spading, which may need to be removed by deeper ripping. Gypsum Dependent on soil characteristics and management Stabilises soil aggregation Use on sodic soils Not effective on sand Moderate
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