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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #96247
Title: OVER-WINTER CHANGES IN SOIL PENETRATION RESISTANCE AND SIMULATED RAINFALL RUNOFF IN VEHICLE-COMPACTED AND UNCOMPACTED SOIL AT YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER,WASHINGTON

Author
item HALVORSON, J - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV.
item PANNKUK, C - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV.
item McCool, Donald
item GATTO, L - DOD
item NISSEN, P - DOD

Submitted to: Integrated Training Area Management Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ongoing research at the Yakima Training Center suggests freeze-thaw cycles in soil help reduce some of the effects of compaction by heavy military vehicles. However, we need to learn if significant changes can occur over a single winter and whether these changes will occur primarily at the soil surface or throughout the soil profile. We measured bulk density and penetration resistance in untracked soil and in M1 tank ruts soon after tracking and in late fall to establish a baseline of soil conditions. We also measured steady-state runoff rates in tank ruts and uncompacted soil using a portable rainfall simulator. Tank-compacted soil had significantly higher runoff rates. Measurements collected in spring 1998 together with onsite measurements of soil freeze-thaw dynamics document changes in soil bulk density, penetration resistance and surface runoff solely attributable to winter 1997-1998.