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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #96448
Title: SOIL FREEZING AND CHANGES TO NEAR-SURFACE BULK DENSITY, PENETRATION RESISTANCE AND INFILTRATION RATES IN TANK-COMPACTED SOIL AT YAKIMA TRAININGCENTER, WASHINGTON

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

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Studies at Yakima Training Center (YTC) suggest freeze-thaw cycles reduce effects of soil compaction by military vehicles. However, we know little about the details of soil freezing and its effects. We monitored soil freezing during winter 1997-1998 at YTC using electrical resistivity probes. We also measured bulk density, penetration resistance and steady- state runoff rates in recently tracked and untracked soils, before and after winter. Patterns of freezing and thawing were most similar in compacted and uncompacted soil near the surface. At greater depths, freezing did not occur in compacted soil or occurred later than in uncompacted soil. Compacted soil had significantly higher surface bulk density, penetration resistance, and runoff rates than uncompacted soil soon after tracking. Data collected in spring 1998 document changes in soil parameters and stead-state surface runoff attributable to winter 1997- -1998.