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How can I reduce soil compaction and improve my crop yield?

Soil compaction is one of the main processes that causes soil damage: it happens when increasingly heavy agricultural machinery travels over the soil, often in difficult weather conditions.

The very nature of the soil, its water content, crop types, and the load applied to the surface are all linked to compaction. Repeated passes by agricultural equipment create soil compaction and shear, thereby reducing capacity for aeration, infiltration, and crop root penetration.

The economic impact of soil compaction is significant: reduced crop yield and the risk of disease development. There’s also a need to do regeneration work such as plowing and/or de-compaction which eat up considerable fuel and time. All of this increases the risk of disease development.

Ruts are created when farm machines cause longways indentations in the soil by sinking down into it as they pass over it again and again. These ruts are a major issue, especially on muddy ground.

Rut formation has catastrophic consequences for crop growth: nothing grows in a rut, so it represents a net loss of yield.

Furthermore, ruts encourage water stagnation, which can asphyxiate plants and promote the development of disease.

Ruts also cause farm machinery to consume more energy. The depth of a rut is like a "step" that an agricultural tire must climb constantly. That means increased fuel consumption.

And the field damage caused by substantial rut formation will need to be repaired. This means carrying out soil regeneration work, which uses up time and fuel.

We recommend using ag tires capable of reducing ground pressure while carrying heavy loads. The pressure in the tire is close to the average pressure applied to the soil. (E.g. if the pressure in the tire is 1 bar (14.5 psi), the pressure applied to the soil by the tire will be around 1 lb/sq.in or 1 kg/cm2.)

So, the higher the tire pressure, the higher the pressure applied to the soil and the higher the degree of compaction and rut formation. Ag tires slipping makes soil compaction worse – therefore, it is essential for them to have good traction to avoid this.

Here are two solutions for reducing soil compaction and rut formation.

Michelin UltraFlex technology is based on an innovative, particularly tough casing, which enables more flex.

As a result, Michelin UltraFlex tires can carry heavy loads even at very low pressures, no matter the speed you work at.

Check out our low pressure simulation tool.

And that's not all: the flexible construction of the casing allows for a larger footprint, which in turn increases the tire's traction and limits soil compaction. With improved traction, Michelin UltraFlex technology tires also allow you to save fuel and to work faster, which improves your crop yields.

Studies carried out over several years by renowned universities* (in England, the USA and Brazil) have concluded that Michelin UltraFlex technology can increase agricultural yields from 2 to 6%.**

In short, with Michelin UltraFlex technology:

you protect your soil
you save time and fuel
you increase your crop yields.

How does Michelin UltraFlex technology work? Watch the video to find out:

Whether you choose wider tires or tires with Michelin UltraFlex technology, you'll reduce soil compaction significantly.** But soil preservation is not the only benefit of optimized agricultural tires:

Less soil compaction reduces the need to regenerate the ground and creates cost savings,
Improved traction means less effort and energy from your machine, and therefore better fuel economy.

Better traction helps you work faster, produce more, and have more time for family.

Find the right ag tires to reduce soil compaction

How can I reduce soil compaction and improve my crop yield?

What is soil compaction?

Rut formation

What can be done to reduce soil compaction and rut formation?

Solution #1: Opt for wide, "large volume" tires

Solution #2: Opt for Michelin UltraFlex Technologies

Conclusion