Pedotechnology and tillage research

This paper summarizes a compactibility interpretation symposium — the first efforts of ISSS Working Group PT (Pedotechnique) to improve geotechnical engineering interpretations of existing soil survey data bases. Proposed interpretation schemes and alternative approaches are discussed.These efforts have also resulted in the identification of 3 avenues of needed research, specifically for tillage soil scientists, and the discussion is presented. The first need is formal recognition of soil mechanical factors and development of improved soil science data bases for tillage, the second is for compatible methods of interpretation and the third is for better documentation of the areal extent of tillage problems through improved soil tillage inventories. It is shown that these 3 avenues of tillage study could be organized within the proposed new ISTRO structure through a committee on Pedotechnology.