Exploring relationships between soil compaction and soil functioning

Soil compaction has significantly affected crop growth and led to soil degradation. The main objective of this thesis research is to increase the understanding of relationships between soil compaction and soil functioning. The specific objectives were 1) to quantitate effects of soil-compaction-remediation measures on soil properties and crop yields; 2) to analyse relationships between spatial variations in soil compaction and spatial variations in soil functioning; 3) to explore innovative measures for compaction remediation and evaluate their effects; 4) to analyse effects of crop yields, C sequestration, and soil nutrients to different tillage measures in long-term cropping systems. Long-term statistical data were collected and analysed; literatures were reviewed; experiments were set and examined in this thesis work. Cereal crops were chosen, mostly on wheat, maize and rice, because of their importance in global food security. Both spatial (Netherland and China) and temporal (short-term and long-term) differences were included, to examine the applicability of conclusions in different conditions.