Alfalfa Compaction From Wheel Traffic
2020
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Department of Biological Systems Engineering
Project Media
Harvesting alfalfa for hay production requires mowing, raking and baling; while silage harvest requires mowing, merging, and chopping passes. Each harvest practice impacts the plants on re-growth as well as the soil due to ground pressure applied by the tires of harvest machines. A research project at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison is aiming to stimulate these traffic patterns to assess the impact of wheel traffic on alfalfa yield and quality while monitoring impacts on the compaction incurred by the soil.