Soil Compaction in Tramlines: Causes and Remediation

Soil compaction from heavy agricultural machinery in intensive crop care leads to deep ruts (5–10 cm) in tramlines, increasing soil hardness (3–5 MPa) and density (1.6–1.9 kg/m³), compromising soil health. Modern machines, up to ten times heavier than before, worsen the issue through repeated passes, especially during fertilizer and spray applications. Intensified farming practices and annual tramline repositioning further exacerbate degradation. Funded by the European Union via EU-FarmBook.