Compaction,hydrological processes and soil erosion on loamy sands in east Shropshire,England

Field investigations on loamy sands in east Shropshire show that compaction by agricultural machinery increases soil bulk density and soil erodibility, and decreases infiltration rates. Structural and hydrological changes, in combination with runoff concentration in cultivation lines, can contribute to serious erosion of arable soils. Compacted soils are also more responsive to rainfall and evidence is presented that intensities as low as approximately 1 mm h^?1 can be erosive. Evidence suggests that compacted subsoils impede infiltration and so contribute to surface runoff and serious topsoil erosion.