Le tassement des sols

Commissariat général au développement durableMay 7, 2019

Le tassement, ou la compaction des sols, résulte essentiellement de la mécanisation agricole et forestière. A l’instar de l’érosion, la compaction constitue un processus majeur de dégradation physique des sols en Europe. La surface du territoire européen affectée par la compaction est évaluée à 33 millions d’hectares, soit 4 % contre 12 % pour l’érosion hydrique.

Soil compaction, or subsidence, results primarily from agricultural and forestry mechanization. Like erosion, compaction is a major process of physical soil degradation in Europe. The surface area of European territory affected by compaction is estimated at 33 million hectares, or 4%, compared to 12% for water erosion.

1 chapter

Sensitivity to soil compaction in agriculture
Factors and consequences
Soil compaction depends on soil type, climate, and farming practices. Beyond reduced yields, it increases nitrate leaching, nitrous oxide emissions, runoff and erosion, and harms soil biodiversity. Despite improvements in soil carbon storage and lower production costs, the shift toward no-till farming techniques is promoting irreversible soil compaction, particularly in wet conditions.
Compaction risk for wheat
For wheat, across all periods (preparation/sowing, treatments, harvest), very high compaction risk affects 15% of agricultural soils, while high risk affects roughly one-third of soils.
Spatial disparities
Significant spatial disparities exist. Overall, the West and East regions are particularly affected, except in the Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin departments and the Alps massif. Locally, high or very high risk affects over two-thirds of agricultural soils in Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne, Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle and the Vosges, as well as in Creuse and Corrèze.

Further reading

Related articles