Compressibility curves as a quantitative measure of soil tilth

Abstract

1. A preliminary account is given of experiments on the compressibility of soils in field condition, and two methods for obtaining compressibility curves, one for the field and one for the laboratory are described. The laboratory apparatus automatically draws a curve relating deformation to the square root of the load built up.2. The theoretical relationship between load and deformation is discussed, the conclusions reached being at this stage semi-quantitative.3. Laboratory compression curves are shown to indicate the characteristics of soils in various states of tilth, and the effects of drainage condition, frost action, etc. are discussed.4. Such factors as size of soil crumb, depth of layer tested, and moisture content of soil samples for laboratory studies are considered.5. Preliminary field experiments are described in which the effect of simple cultivation processes on soil compressibility were measured.6. Tentative conclusions about the significance of the differences in the shape of the laboratory curves are given, though these may need to be modified, and will certainly be extended following further experimentation.