Soil compaction and site construction: Assessment and case studies

"Soils are routinely compacted during the site construction process. This compaction alters the physical properties of these soils, negatively impacting tree preservation and establishment efforts. In order to identify the causes of soil compaction and to assess the severity of compaction that occurs during the various stages of site construction, a study of several residential construction sites in Northern California was initiated. The construction process generally fell into two categories: mass grading, where the entire site is uniformly graded and compacted and selective grading, where either no grading occurs or grading occurs over portions of the site. Bulk densities in landscape areas on a mass graded site in Davis, CA averaged 1.75 g/cm³. For fenced, undisturbed areas at Briggs Ranch, a selectively graded site in Folsom, CA, bulk densities averaged 1.27 g/cm³, while outside of fencing, bulk densities averaging 1.61 g/cm³ were found. On another selectively graded site in Bear Valley, CA, bulk densities in undisturbed soils averaged 0.95 g/cm³, compared to 1.14 g/cm³ in disturbed area. On the first two sites, bulk densities were higher than established critical values, indicating growth limiting conditions on these sites. On mass graded sites, managing compaction requires ameliorative treatments designed to break up compacted soil layers. Soil compaction of selectively graded sites may be significantly reduced through various compaction prevention measures." [Abstract]

[Morton Arboretum, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 1993]

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