_RaT_
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2000
- Messages
- 5,813
- Location
- Peoples Republic of Northern CA.
- Tractor
- Kioti 3510-SE HST
I remember reading from a Michelin website years ago about how getting more traction is more important then meets the eye. The need to weigh down a tractor to gain much needed traction and reduce wheel slip can also be a contributing factor to poor crop growth. Compact soils can severely stunt a plants growth which was easily determined by seeing plants stunted growth where the tractor ran on loose soil and out on the wings where the tractor did not. The remedy was to use low pressure and larger footprint tires. It also mentioned that 4WD and track drives have helped out in this area by helping to eliminate high front/rear weight discrepancies commonly found on 2WD where the farmer will add wheel weights to gain much needed traction. The article was geared towards farmers but I have always remembered the article and the picture of a farmer holding two plants in his hands. One from a low compaction soil and the other from a high compaction soil. The root structure was remarkably different. Here is a newer article about this subject.
Michelin AG - Reduce Soil Compaction
Michelin AG - Reduce Soil Compaction