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Soil workability is defined as the upper limit
of soil water content above which there is a
potential risk of soil degradation from the use
of heavy equipment. Excessive precipitation
during the spring during planting and fall during
harvest can reduce the period of time when soil is
workable. Climate models predict that precipitation is
likely to increase in these critical shoulder seasons.
The installation of tile drains, ditch improvements and
water conveyance infrastructure can help mitigate this
problem but currently the data available for evaluation
and planning of fields at risk is limited to coarse
resolution soil survey maps published in 1980. Some
soil properties that influence workability are unlikely to
change, such as soil texture, but soil organic matter,
which is a key determinant of workability, is highly
dynamic. This project developed digital soil maps to
enhance planning and evaluation for climate
adaptation strategies and to provide an important
monitoring tool for soil quality.
of soil water content above which there is a
potential risk of soil degradation from the use
of heavy equipment. Excessive precipitation
during the spring during planting and fall during
harvest can reduce the period of time when soil is
workable. Climate models predict that precipitation is
likely to increase in these critical shoulder seasons.
The installation of tile drains, ditch improvements and
water conveyance infrastructure can help mitigate this
problem but currently the data available for evaluation
and planning of fields at risk is limited to coarse
resolution soil survey maps published in 1980. Some
soil properties that influence workability are unlikely to
change, such as soil texture, but soil organic matter,
which is a key determinant of workability, is highly
dynamic. This project developed digital soil maps to
enhance planning and evaluation for climate
adaptation strategies and to provide an important
monitoring tool for soil quality.
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