Transformation of the structure of soil pore space under the impact of farm machines

The newly elaborated method of thin-section analysis using the IMAGER-512 device was applied to study transformation of soil pore space under the impact of farm machines. It is shown that for the soil studied, both in the control and in the experiments with different degrees of compaction, the lognormal pattern of macropore-size distribution is typical. An explanation for the effect of the appearance of cracks in strongly compacted soils is suggested. The consequences of this process and their impact on the soil-water regime and the development of root systems in the soils are considered.