Laboratory research on the compressibility of four topsoils from grassland

A laboratory technique is described that was developed to investigate the effects of hoof pressure on grassland topsoil. The effects of a vertically-applied pressure (300 kPa) of short duration on 4 soils equilibrated at 0, 5 and 10 kPa water tension are reported. Less vertical deformation and compression were produced at the lower water tension in 2 of the soils. In general, there was a greater recovery from deformation, measured immediately after the transient pressure, at lower water tensions. The most severe structural damage was recorded at depths of approximately 100 mm rather than at the surface.