Predicting soil workability and fragmentation in tillage: a review

Soil workability and friability are required parameters to consider when creating suitable seedbeds for crop establishment and growth. Knowledge of soil workability is important for scheduling tillage operations and for reducing the risk of tillage‐induced structural degradation of soils. A reliable evaluation of soil workability implies a distinctive definition of the critical water content (wet and dry limits) for tillage. In this review, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the methods for determining soil workability, and the effects of soil properties and tillage systems on soil workability and fragmentation. The strengths and limitations of the different methods for evaluating the water content for soil workability, such as the plastic limit, soil water retention curve (SWRC), standard Proctor compaction test, field assessment, moisture‐pressure‐volume diagram, air permeability and drop‐shatter tests are discussed. Our review reveals that there is limited information on the dry limit and the range of water content for soil workability for different textured soils. We identify the need for further research to evaluate soil workability on undisturbed soils using a combination of SWRC and the drop‐shatter tests or tensile strength; (i) to quantify the effects of soil texture, organic matter and compaction on soil workability; and (ii) to compare soil water content for workability in the field with theoretical soil workability, thereby improving the prediction of soil workability as part of a decision support system for tillage operations.     

Compressive properties of some Swedish and Danish structured agricultural soils measured in uniaxial compression tests

Soil compaction is recognized as a threat to long‐term productivity of agricultural soils and as a cause of environmental problems such as flooding. The use of models to establish strategies for prevention of soil compaction is hampered by lack of model input parameters describing soil mechanical properties. This paper presents the compressive properties N (specific volume at σ = 1 kPa on the virgin compression line), C_c (compression index) and C_r (recompression index) obtained from uniaxial compression testing of 69 individual soil layers and investigates the relationships between these properties and readily quantifiable soil parameters. No correlation was found between compressive properties and soil texture. Instead, N, C_c and C_r were positively correlated to the initial specific volume (v₀). This suggests that compressive properties are more strongly affected by soil structure than by soil texture. Dependency of compressive properties on v₀ could not be expected from classical soil compressive behaviour theory but suggests modifications to the theory of soil unloading‐reloading behaviour. We suggest that the latter is dependent on time between unloading and reloading.     

Effects of compaction on soil surface water repellency

Water repellency can reduce the infiltration capacity of soils over timescales similar to those of precipitation events. Compaction can also reduce infiltration capacity by decreasing soil hydraulic conductivity, but the effect of compaction on soil water repellency is unknown. This study explores the effect of compaction on the wettability of water repellent soil. Three air‐dry (water content ～4 g 100 g^?1) silt loam samples of contrasting wettability (non‐repellent, strongly and severely water repellent) were homogenized and subjected to various pressures in the range 0–1570 kPa in an odeometer for 24 h. Following removal, sample surface water repellency was reassessed using the water drop penetration time method and surface roughness using white light interferometry. An increase in compaction pressure caused a significant reduction in soil surface water repellency, which in turn increases the soil's initial infiltration capacity. The difference in surface roughness of soils compacted at the lowest and highest pressures was significant (at P > 0.2) suggesting an increase in the contact area between sessile water drops and soil surfaces was providing increased opportunities for surface wetting mechanisms to proceed. This suggests that compaction of a water repellent soil may lead to an increased rate of surface wetting, which is a precursor to successful infiltration of water into bulk soil. Although there may be a reduction in soil conductivity upon compaction, the more rapid initiation of infiltration may, in some circumstances, lead to an overall increase in the proportion of rain or irrigation water infiltrating water repellent soil, rather than contributing to surface run‐off or evaporation.     

The mechanical behavior of structured and homogenized soil under repeated loading

Soil deformation is increasingly important in crop production since nowadays weights of agricultural machines exceed the bearing capacity of most soils. Often this is counteracted by distributing the weight over more axles leading to an increase in wheeling frequency. Machine passages during one year can, depending on the crop and equipment used, range between two and five times for the majority of the field and up to twenty times and more for a wheeling track. These add up to hundreds of loading events for a crop‐rotation period. In this study, we investigated the effect of multiple loading with the same load in a cyclic‐compression test on soil‐pore‐volume change. The tests were conducted on homogenized soil samples with varying texture and undisturbed soil samples from a field experimental site comparing conventional and conservation‐tillage systems. Of particular interest was the question whether there is significant plastic soil deformation for soil stresses that remained sufficiently below the precompression stress, which is commonly neglected. Our results show that especially for cohesive soils, the assumption of fully elasticity in the recompression range may not be justified since those soils show distinct cyclic‐creep behavior. We found that deformation under cyclic loading follows a logarithmic law. We used the slope of the logarithmic fit of void‐ratio changes vs. loading cycles as a parameter to characterize the sensitivity of soils to cyclic compression. The results suggest that for characterizing the mechanical stability of soils that show cyclic creep, we have (with respect to long‐term deformation effects) to consider both precompression stress and cyclic compressibility.     

Water retention characteristics of soils over the whole moisture range: a comparison of laboratory methods

The exact characterization of soil hydraulic properties is essential for various purposes, such as agricultural and groundwater management. Various laboratory methods for the determination of soil water retention characteristics are frequently applied. Standard methods comprise: (i) the hanging‐water column and (ii) the simplified evaporation method (HYPROP^©) for wet to moderate moisture ranges; and (iii) the pressure plate and (iv) the dew point method (WP4C PotentiaMeter®) for moderate to dry moisture ranges. These four methods were evaluated and compared, with the aim of demonstrating their compatibility. The hanging‐water column method and the evaporation method provided comparable retention data in the wet to moderate moisture range. The dew point method provided corresponding results over the dry range, while retention data obtained from the pressure plate method sometimes had a tendency to over‐estimate water contents. Hysteresis was observed for retention data in the dry range when applying the dew point method to previously wetted or dried samples.     

Belowground Attributes on Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands over a 40‐year Chronosequence

Reclamation following mining activities often aims to restore stable soils that support productive and diverse native plant communities. The soil re‐spread process increases soil compaction, which may alter soil water, plant composition, rooting depths, and soil organic matter. This may have a direct impact on vegetation establishment and species recruitment. Seasonal wet/dry and freeze/thaw patterns are thought to alleviate soil compaction over time. However, this has not been formally evaluated on reclaimed landscapes at large scales. Our objectives were to (1) determine soil compaction alleviation, (2) rooting depth, and (3) spatial patterns of soil water content over a time‐since‐reclamation gradient. Soil resistance to penetration varied by depth, with shallow compaction remaining unchanged, but deeper compaction increased over time rather than being alleviated. Root biomass and depth did not increase with time and was consistently less than the values in the reference location. Plant communities initially had a strong native component, but quickly became dominated by invasive species following reclamation, and soil water content became increasingly homogeneous over the 40‐year chronosequence. Seasonal weather patterns and soil organic matter additions can reduce soil compaction if water infiltration is not limited. Shallow and strongly fibrous‐rooted grasses present in reclaimed sites added organic matter to shallow soil layers, but did not penetrate the compacted layers and allow water infiltration. Strong linkages between land management strategies, soil properties, and vegetation composition can advance reclamation efforts and promote heterogeneous landscapes. However, current post‐reclamation management strategies are incompletely utilizing natural seasonal weather patterns to reduce soil compaction. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil compaction: identification directly in the field

The compaction of soil alters its structure, increases its bulk density and decreases its porosity. These changes can be detected by careful and systematic visual and tactile examination directly in the field. These changes also reduce the permeability of soil to water and air and may alter the pattern of root growth. Further signs of compaction may be induced such as the creation of waterlogged zones or of dry zones caused by shallow rooting denying access to deeper reserves of water. Furthermore, there may be a reduction in nutrient uptake from dry soil. Under wet conditions anoxic pockets may form with associated biochemical changes, some of which are visible. Changes in mineral nitrogen may take place through denitrification and a reduction in nitrification. The criteria used to identify compaction in the field include patterns of crop growth, pale leaf colours, waterlogging on the surface or in subsurface layers above compaction, an increase in soil strength, changes to soil structure, soil colour and the distribution of roots and of soil moisture. Manifestation of soil compaction in crops is also dependent on the weather and is influenced by crop type and variety, and stage of growth. Many soil‐borne diseases are made worse by stress to the crop which might be induced by compaction caused by drier or wetter conditions in the root zone. Where, when and how to identify compaction in the field are discussed and the techniques used are described. Specific examples of the identification of compaction are given, covering a wide range of situations.     

Pipeline right‐of‐way construction activities impact on deep soil compaction

A 762‐mm‐diameter pipe 1,886 km long was installed to transfer crude oil in the USA from North Dakota to Illinois. To investigate the impact of construction and restoration practices on long‐term soil productivity and crop yield, vertical soil stresses induced by a Caterpillar (CAT) pipe liner PL 87 (475 kN vehicle load) and semi‐trailer truck (8.9 kN axle load) were studied in a farm field. Soil properties (bulk density and cone penetration resistance) were measured on field zones within the right‐of‐way (ROW) classified according to construction machine trafficking and subsoil tillage (300‐mm‐depth tillage and 450‐mm‐depth tillage in two repeated passes) treatments. At 200 mm depth from the subsoiled surface, the magnitude of peak vertical soil stress from trafficking by the semi‐truck trailer and CAT pipe liner PL 87 was 133 kPa. The peak vertical soil stress at 400 mm soil depth appeared to be influenced by vehicle weight, where the Caterpillar pipe liner PL 87 created soil compaction a magnitude of 1.5 greater than from the semi‐trailer truck. Results from the soil bulk density and soil cone penetration resistance measurements also showed the ROW zones had significantly higher soil compaction than adjacent unaffected corn planted fields. Tillage to 450 mm depth alleviated the deep soil compaction better than the 300‐mm‐depth tillage as measured by soil cone penetration resistance within the ROW zones and the unaffected zone. These results could be incorporated into agricultural mitigation plans in ROW construction utilities to minimize soil and crop damage.     

Strength attributes and compaction susceptibility of Brazilian Latosols

In this study, strength attributes and compaction susceptibility of the main classes of Brazilian Latosols (Oxisols), under native vegetation, were studied using the load bearing capacity models relating precompression stress, compression index and water potential through statistical regression models. These models were developed based on the results of the analysis of undisturbed soil samples collected at the B horizon at the different sites. The results showed that the maximum value of the compression index was 0.53 for the Acric Red Latosol, indicating its higher susceptibility to soil compaction. The Dystrocohesive Yellow Latosol had the highest load bearing capacity, while the Acric Red Latosol had the lowest one. The Dystrocohesive Yellow Latosol due to its high load bearing capacity and bulk density (mechanical resistance) behave similarly to hardsetting soil, in which the plants root system has severe physical restrictions to explore deeper horizons during the dry periods. Differences in the load bearing capacity and compaction susceptibility were found to be influenced by soil structure which is associated with clay mineralogy in these very weathered-leached soils and water potential. The study also showed that soil compression index is influenced by water potential and clay mineralogy also. Our work has laid a foundation for estimation of compaction susceptibility of Latosols.     

The variation of soil critical state parameters with water content and its relevance to the compaction of two agricultural soils

Examination of the previously published results of laboratory compression tests on a loam and a sandy loam has shown that as the water content and degree of saturation of a soil increase, the gradient of the virgin compression line, expressed in terms of specific volume and log of spherical pressure, increases and its intercept decreases. The water contents of the soils ranged from 5% to 30% and the degrees of saturation ranged from 10% to 40%. For both soils the gradient of the recompression line for previously compressed soils was shown to decrease with decreasing initial specific volume (increasing density) and to approach zero at a specific volume of 1.5 (dry bulk density of 1750 kg/m₃). It was deduced that the position of the critical state line also varies with soil water content and that the critical state theory can be extended to unsaturated soils and therefore be of use in predicting the mechanical behaviour of agricultural soil during cultivation and compaction.     

轮式和履带式车辆行走对农田土壤的压实作用分析

由履带式行走机构代替轮胎被认为是减缓大型农业车辆对土壤压实的有效手段之一。与轮胎相比,履带具有更大的接地面积,能够有效减小车辆对土壤的平均压力。然而履带与土壤接触面间的应力分布极不均匀,应力主要集中在各承重轮下方,履带减缓土壤压实的能力是目前有待研究的问题。该研究通过在土壤内埋设压力传感器,测试比较了相近载质量的轮胎和履带式车辆作用下,0.15和0.35 m深度土壤内的最大垂直及水平应力,同时研究了车辆行驶速度对土壤内垂直及水平应力大小的影响。基于土壤压实分析模型计算了轮胎和履带压实的0.1~0.7m深度土壤内的最大垂直及水平应力分布。通过对0.15和0.35 m深度的土样进行室内测试,比较了轮胎和履带式车辆压实对土壤透气率、先期固结压力及干容重大小的影响。结果表明,履带相比较于轮胎,能够减小土壤内的垂直及水平应力,但垂直应力的减小量比水平应力大;轮胎对0.15和0.35m深度土壤作用的平均最大垂直应力分别约为履带的2.2及2.0倍,而平均最大水平应力仅分别约为履带的1.2及1.1倍。轮胎作用下的最大垂直及水平应力在表层土壤内明显大于履带,但两者的应力差值随着土壤深度的增加逐渐减小,分别在0.7和0.4 m深度时无明显差别。轮胎和履带压实作用下,0.15和0.35 m深度土壤内的垂直及水平应力均随车辆行驶速度的增加而减小,履带作用下的应力减小速度大于轮胎。履带作用下0.15和0.35 m深度内土壤的透气率均明显小于轮胎,但土壤的先期固结压力及干容重无显著区别。研究结果为可为农业车辆行走机构的选择及使用提供参考。     

SoilFlex‐LLWR: linking a soil compaction model with the least limiting water range concept

Soil compaction impacts growing conditions for plants: it increases the mechanical resistance to root growth and modifies the soil pore system and consequently the supply of water and oxygen to the roots. The least limiting water range (LLWR) defines a range of soil water contents within which root growth is minimally limited with regard to water supply, aeration and penetration resistance. The LLWR is a function of soil bulk density (BD), and hence directly affected by soil compaction. In this paper, we present a new model, ‘SoilFlex‐LLWR’, which combines a soil compaction model with the LLWR concept. We simulated the changes in LLWR due to wheeling with a self‐propelled forage harvester on a Swiss clay loam soil (Gleyic Cambisol) using the new SoilFlex‐LLWR model, and compared measurements of the LLWR components as a function of BD with model estimations. SoilFlex‐LLWR allows for predictions of changes in LLWR due to compaction caused by agricultural field traffic and therefore provides a quantitative link between impact of soil loading and soil physical conditions for root growth.     

SSA土壤固化剂对黄土击实、抗剪及渗透特性的影响

为了探讨土壤固化剂对黄土力学特性的影响,通过黄土样中加入SSA土壤固化剂前后的击实试验、直剪试验和渗透试验的对比分析,研究了固化剂掺量、养护龄期与固化土击实、抗剪强度及渗透特性的关系。结果表明,随SSA土壤固化剂掺量增加,固化土的最优含水率有所降低,最大干密度有所增大;固化土的抗剪强度指标黏聚力和内摩擦角随固化剂掺量的增加和养护龄期的延长而增大,渗透系数随固化剂掺量的增加和养护龄期的延长而减小。在实际应用中,建议SSA固化剂最佳掺量为1%,养护龄期至少7 d以上。     

垄沟灌溉对土壤水分布与湿润体特征的影响

The ridge-furrow tillage combined with furrow irrigation is being more widely applied and has been shown to be effective in the Loess Plateau of China. Accurate characterization of water infiltration behavior under ridge-furrow irrigation could provide guidelines and criteria for future irrigation system design and operation. Our objective was to investigate soil water behavior during ponding infiltration in a cross-sectional ridge-furrow configuration. Soil water movement within three different soil textures was tested by tracking the spatial and temporal soil water content (SWC) variations in a soil chamber. The two-dimensional transient flow initially transferred rapidly, but gradually decreased with elapsed infiltration time, approaching a stable flow after 90 min. A technical parameter equation incorporating the Philip equation was developed using the water balance method to accurately predict total applied water volume (TAWV). The wetting patterns moved outward in an elliptical shape. The wetted lateral and downward distances fitted using equations accounted for capillary and gravitational driving forces in variably wetted soil media. Increasing initial SWC resulted in an increase in wetted soil volume, which can also be caused by decreasing bulk density in a homogeneous soil. Higher water level produced greater wetted lateral distance and more irrigation uniformity. The wetted lateral distance was almost identical to the wetted depth in silty clay loam soil; hence ridge-furrow irrigation should be implemented in such finer-textured soils. The wetted soil volume differed markedly among different soil textures (hydraulic properties), demonstrating that these properties can largely determine soil water spreading patterns and distribution.     

Visual structure assessment and mechanical soil properties of re‐cultivated soils made up of loess

Re‐cultivated soils (previously piled soils used as the final surface cover in renovation of open cast mine sites) are particularly susceptible to compaction, which is why a simple estimate of mechanical strength is necessary for land management. In this study, therefore, precompression stress (?6 kPa matric potential) was determined for a total of 20 soil layers from 9 repeatedly cultivated areas of arable land in North Rhine–Westphalia (Germany), along with the aggregate density/dry bulk density ratio (as a measure of density heterogeneity) and air capacity (as a soil ecological parameter). These results are contrasted with the determination of packing density. Packing density (PD) is an integrated parameter that combines various properties (aggregate size, cohesion of the soil structure, root distribution, biogenic macropores and aggregate arrangement) and is assessed visually in the field. Packing density levels range between 1 (very loose soil) and 5 (very highly compacted). There is a strongly negative relationship between packing density and both the aggregate density/dry bulk density ratio and air capacity. Conversely, mechanical precompression stress increases with packing density. Ranges of the individual parameters can be assigned to each of the packing density levels. Packing density level 3 represents an optimization with regard to mechanical soil stability whilst maintaining minimum air capacity requirements (5–8 Vol.‐%).     

Developing reservoir tillage technology for semi-arid environments

Arable farming on suitable land in semi‐arid environments is hampered by low and erratic rainfall and droughts. To use this land effectively, techniques, such as water harvesting may improve soil water storage and increase agricultural productivity. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess two reservoir tillage methods under different slopes, rainfall intensities and soil densities. A commercial trailed tillage tool (Aqueel) was used to form discrete soil depressions by compression of the soil and a soil scooping device with similar dimensions was used to make depressions in shear by lifting the soil out. The results show that, for the sandy loam used in this study, reservoir tillage is an effective method of harvesting water under high‐intensity rainfall of short duration common in semi‐arid areas. It reduced surface run‐off by 95% on 10° slopes when depressions were staggered and positioned with their long axis across slope. However, high initial soil bulk densities lead to a significant reduction in the volume of the depressions formed in compression and to internal compaction. Increasing vertical load on the Aqueel resulted in an increase in depression volume without an increase in internal compaction but at high bulk densities the depression volumes remained small and high implement load damaged the depression function and stability. This suggests a need for a pre‐loosening tillage operation for compacted soils and the need to design new implements to form depressions in shear.     

Long-Term Effects of Different Passages of Vehicular Traffic on Soil Properties and Carbon Storage of a Crosby Silt Loam in USA

The passage of vehicles with heavy axle loads causes soil compaction, and this adversely affects soil properties and crop yield.The adverse effects can persist for several years due to significant changes in key soil properties. However, the mechanisms of the aforementioned effects are not well understood for conservation agriculture(CA)(e.g., no-till(NT)) wherein the use of heavy machinery is considerably common. Therefore, known compaction forces(0 Mg load for compaction(NT-0, control), two passages of 2.5 Mg water wagon axle load(NT-2), and four passages of 2.5 Mg water wagon axle load(NT-4)) were applied to all the plots annually for 20 consecutive years. The experiment was established in 1997 at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory(WANRL), Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Soil samples were obtained in November2016 to determine the effects of variations in the axle load and vehicular passages on carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) storage and selected soil properties of a Crosby silt loam soil under NT-based corn-soybean rotation with residue retention in Central Ohio, USA. Three locations were also randomly selected in an adjoining natural woodlot(WL) soil plot and sampled(30 m away from the compaction field) to compare the effects of vehicular traffic on soil under NT with WL soil. Results revealed that soil bulk density(ρb) and total porosity at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths were not affected by the passages of vehicular traffic for 20 years under the NT system.The penetration resistance(PR)(1.86 and 2.03 MPa at 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths, respectively) was significantly higher under NT-4 compared with that under other treatments. Saturated hydraulic conductivity at 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths ranged from19.7 to 31.4 and 18.5 to 29.5 mm d~(-1), respectively, across all the treatments. The proportion of macroaggregates( 0.25 mm) and microaggregates( 0.25 mm), mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter of aggregates, pH, electrical conductivity, and C and N contents and storage did not differ significantly between the treatments at either of the sampling soil depths. The data indicated that 2 to 4 passages of vehicles with 2.5 Mg of axle load did not cause significant compaction of the Crosby silt loam under NT compared with that under natural WL. Therefore, the continuous cultivation of row crops with NT and residue retention is feasible with passages of vehicular traffic for well-drained soils in Central Ohio.     

Structural disruption of arable soils under laboratory conditions causes minor respiration increases

Previous field studies in N Europe have shown that the impact of soil tillage on soil respiration is mostly indirect, caused by altered distribution of plant residues in soil affecting decomposition of residues. Tillage operations alter soil moisture and temperature conditions in soil, which control decomposition dynamics. Experiments under laboratory conditions allow indirect effects of altered residue decomposition to be distinguished from direct effects of mechanical disruption, i.e., the increased exposure of substrates within aggregates and micropores upon tillage. This study examined the effects of physical disruption of soils with different soil texture, land‐use history, and soil organic C content on soil respiration under controlled abiotic conditions. Undisturbed soil samples from 7 sites (arable land and grassland) were incubated at 20°C and three different water potentials (–1, –10, and –30 kPa). Soil respiration was measured before and after physical disruption with laboratory homogenizer, using an automated respiration apparatus. Soil organic C, water content, and bulk density explained 67% of the variation in base respiration. In half of the disrupted samples, bulk density was re‐adjusted by re‐compaction to conditions prevailing before disruption. Disruption and re‐compaction generally resulted in higher respiration flushes than disruption alone. Respiration peaks increased with water content. However, total C losses were small and corresponded to < 0.1 Mg C ha^?1. Overall, physical soil disruption increased decomposition of soil organic matter only marginally and temporarily. It would be difficult to detect an effect of tillage on soil organic matter decomposition under field conditions.     

Shrinkage behaviour of transiently- and constantly-loaded soils and its consequences for soil moisture release

Soils under loaded conditions may have different shrinkage behaviour from that of load‐free soils. In this study, we applied two kinds of mechanical stress (σ) on repacked homogeneous soil samples: transient and constant stresses, simulating the traffic load during tillage and the overburden pressure, respectively. Three transient stresses were applied on the soil surface with 150, 400 and 1400 kPa, while the constant stresses ranged from 1.8, 3.8, 5.5, to 7.3 kPa. We hypothesized that the two stresses play different roles in soil shrinkage behaviour as depicted by void ratio (e) and moisture ratio (?), as compared with load‐free soil. Thus, our aim was to build up the relationship between e, ? and σ. For a swelling soil, total pores can be divided into rigid and non‐rigid components according to their swelling and shrinkage capacity relative to soil moisture. The non‐rigid pores compacted by the transient stress can be regained in the subsequent wetting at load‐free conditions, whereas the compacted rigid pores do not recover. The reduction in rigid pores does not alter the soil pore shrinkage capacity. The shrinkage curves of transiently‐loaded soils are therefore parallel to each other with an identical coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) and the same shrinkage slope, although their structural shrinkage phase narrows with an increase of stress. However, the constant stress compresses non‐rigid pores readily through suppressing their swelling capacity during wetting as well as compacting rigid pores. If the change of rigid pores is negligible, the shrinkage curves of constantly‐loaded soils converge at the zero shrinkage or the dry‐end point with the load‐free soil shrinkage. If the reductions of rigid and non‐rigid pores are both considered, the soil shrinkage combines the part of parallel shrinkage derived from the reduced rigid pores and the intersected shrinkage resulted from the altered non‐rigid pores. On the basis of different shrinkage behaviours resulting from the two mechanical stresses, we propose numerical formulae to illustrate a series of curves for the e‐?‐σ relationship. The different changes in rigid and non‐rigid pores cause soil water release differently.     

Seasonal dynamics in wheel load‐carrying capacity of a loam soil in the Swiss Plateau

Subsoil compaction is a major problem in modern agriculture caused by the intensification of agricultural production and the increase in weight of agricultural machinery. Compaction in the subsoil is highly persistent and leads to deterioration of soil functions. Wheel load‐carrying capacity (WLCC) is defined as the maximum wheel load for a specific tyre and inflation pressure that does not result in soil stress in excess of soil strength. The soil strength and hence WLCC is strongly influenced by soil matric potential (h). The aim of this study was to estimate the seasonal dynamics in WLCC based on in situ measurements of h, measurements of precompression stress at various h and simulations of soil stress. In this work, we concentrated on prevention of subsoil compaction. Calculations were made for different tyres (standard and low‐pressure top tyres) and for soil under different tillage and cropping systems (mouldboard ploughing, direct drilling, permanent grassland), and the computed WLCC was compared with real wheel loads to obtain the number of trafficable days (NTD) for various agricultural machines. Wheel load‐carrying capacity was higher for the top than the standard tyres, demonstrating the potential of tyre equipment in reducing compaction risks. The NTD varied between years and generally decreased with increasing wheel load of the machinery. The WLCC simulations presented here provide a useful and easily interpreted tool to guide the avoidance of soil compaction.