Soil Response to Compaction and determine regression optimal model

In this study higher PI of clay loam than that for sandy loam or loam means that the clay loam is prone to substantial compaction over a wider moisture content range than either the sandy loam or loam soils. Using these guidelines the clay loam used in this study is highly plastic while the sandy loam and loam have low plasticity and therefore are less prone to severe compaction because of the narrow moisture range within which deformation would occur. For each soil it is not advisable to use heavy machine traffic such as that used in reclamation or ta allow animal treading when the water content of the soil is between the plastic limit and liquid limit. Field capacity for the clay loam soil is in the ʹdanger zoneʹ, i.e. FC is in the range within which the soil is plastic. Therefore trafficking and cultivation must be avoided when this soil is at field capacity. For the three soils used in the study either field capacity or plastic limit, whichever is less, is recommended as a threshold moisture content beyond which trafficking should be avoided. The nature of the relationship between penetration resistance, bulk density and moisture content depends on soil texture. Bulk density is the dominant independent variable that determines penetration resistance of coarse- textured soils (sandy loam and loam), whereas for fie fine-textured soils in clay loam moisture content is the dominant independent variable that accounts for most of the variation in penetration resistance.