Reducing Soil Compaction

What is soil compaction?

Soil settling and compaction--main components of soil damage--are worsening due to increased agricultural equipment weight and ever-changing weather. Compaction is related to the soil's makeup, water content, the type of crops grown, and the load applied to the surface. The constant movement of machinery generates compression and damage, reducing aeration, permeation, and the ability for crops to root. Economic impact of soil compaction are significant: lower yields, disease development, and regenerative actions like plowing and/or decompaction--all of which waste time and fuel.

What is rut formation?

Ruts are large soil impressions created by agricultural equipment passing over the soil. Ruts are especially significant in muddy conditions.
The consequences can be catastrophic for agricultural development: nothing grows in a rut, so it represents net loss of yield.

The rut can cause water to pool which can asphyxiate plants and promote disease development.
Ruts also consume energy when using agricultural equipment. The depth of a rut is like a “step” that the tire must constantly cross, resulting in fuel consumption. A field with a lot of ruts will need restoring. As a result, time and fuel are wasted regenerating the soil for proper use.

Recommendation No.1: opt for wide and “large volume” series

The objective of “wide” and “large volume” tires is to reduce load pressure and provide better traction, while retaining the same external diameter and rolling circumference as a “standard” tire.

A tractor originally equipped with standard tires can be fitted with wide or large volume tires. Michelin has developed wide and large volume tires in the following sizes:

• MICHELIN OMNIBIB 620/70 R42 160D TL and 480/70 R30 141D TL.
• MICHELIN MULTIBIB 650/65 R42 158D TL and 540/65 R30 143D TL.
• MICHELIN MACHXBIB 650/75 R38 169 A8 /169B TL and 600/65 R28 154A8/154B TL.

Original equipment: MICHELIN AGRIBIB (standard) 520/85R42 157 A8 /157B TL and MICHELIN AGRIBIB 16.9R30 137 A8/134B TL On average compared to the MICHELIN AGRIB the pressure in the MICHELIN OMNIB and MICHELIN MULTIBIB is at least 20% lower and the pressure in the MICHELIN MACHXBIB is on average 38% lower.

Recommendation No.2: Choose Michelin UltraFlex Technologies

Thanks to MICHELIN UltraFlex technology, agronomic performance optimization starts at the tire level. The secret? An innovative, extremely durable carcass that allows greater flexibility. As a result, tires equipped with MICHELIN UltraFlex can support heavy loads even at lower pressure, regardless of speed. And that's not all: the flexible carcass creates a larger footprint, increasing traction. Benefits include:

• saving time and fuel
• preserving your soil
• increasing your crop yields

Michelin Agriculture and Compact Equipment Tires

Download free agricultural equipment inflation tables by tire line.

Reducing Soil Compaction

What is soil compaction?

What is rut formation?

Michelin Recommendations

Recommendation No.1: opt for wide and “large volume” series

Recommendation No.2: Choose Michelin UltraFlex Technologies

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