Soil Physical Properties in Agricultural Systems: Structure, Water Movement, Compaction, and Implications for Crop Productivity: A Review

Abstract

Soil physical properties are one of the most important factors that determine the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems. They determine the ways water can flow and hold, the aeration of the soils, the penetration of the roots into the soil and the physical environment that the plants require to grow. This review was aimed at providing a scientific overview of the major soil physical properties that take place in agricultural soils and the most significant ones which are soil structure, soil texture, soil water movement, soil water retention, soil bulk density, soil porosity and soil compaction. The effect of physical degradation of soils on plant growth and the best management practices that could be used to improve the physical condition of the soils was also discussed. The results indicate that soil texture is the fundamental skeleton of soil and soil structure is the one that mostly dictates the functionality of the soil in an agricultural context. Vanel condition of the soil, destruction of structure and reduction of porosity negatively affect infiltration, root establishment, and crop yield. On the other hand, appropriate management such as less tilling, cover crops, organic amendments and controlled traffic agriculture would improve the physical quality of the soil and sustainability of agriculture on a long run. In general, the physical conditions of soil are crucial in enhancing the performance of crops, water-use efficiency, and the condition of the soil in contemporary agricultural systems.