PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rivenshield, Angela
AU  - Bassuk, Nina L.
TI  - Using Organic Amendments to Decrease Bulk Density and Increase Macroporosity in Compacted Soils
AID  - 10.48044/jauf.2007.015
DP  - 2007 Mar 01
TA  - Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
PG  - 140--146
VI  - 33
IP  - 2
4099  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/33/2/140.short
4100  - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/33/2/140.full
AB  - Samples of compacted sandy loam and clay loam soil were amended with organic matter: sphagnum peat or food waste compost. Amendments were incorporated into the soil samples at 0%, 10%, 33%, 50%, and 75% on a volume-tovolume basis. Changes in bulk density and macroporosity resulting from amendation were measured. In every permutation but one, macroporosity increased and bulk density decreased to below root-restricting thresholds. These results held true for the half of the samples that were manually recompacted. Differences between the amendments were not significant. Amendation with sufficient amounts of sphagnum peat or food waste compost alleviates compaction, creating an environment more conducive for root growth.