Compaction testing of materials for land restoration
1990
McQueen, D. (Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, Lower Hutt (New Zealand). Division of Land and Soil Sciences)
One of the major problems in land restoration is the accompanying soil compaction which results from respreading of soil material by earth-moving machinery. Soil compaction results in changes to physical properties and hence poor soil aeration, slow water and air movement and reduced root development leading to poor plant growth. To ameliorate soil compaction is expensive and time consuming. Avoidance of compaction is preferable and can be facilitated by ensuring all earthmoving is carried out below critical soil-water contents. Simulation of compaction from earthmoving operations has been carried out in the laboratory. Critical soil physical properties have also been measured. Results are reported for a range of soil materials, including ones from coalmining areas in the Waikato. These indicate all materials currently used for rehabilitation are likely to have plant growth problems if restored at water contents encountered in the field. It is concluded that laboratory simulation of compaction and measurement of physical properties provides a comprehensive range of criteria for determining the range of water contents suitable for rehabilitation and severity of amelioration problems. Field simulation of compaction can also act as a useful guide to suitability of ambient conditions for earthmoving and likelihood of need for amelioration
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