EGU26-276, updated on 13 Mar 2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-276
EGU General Assembly 2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Oral | Wednesday, 06 May, 14:15–14:18 (CEST)
 
vPoster spot 2
Poster | Wednesday, 06 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST), Display time Wednesday, 06 May, 14:00–18:00
 
vPoster Discussion, vP.63
Evaluating the Effect of Compaction on Soil Hydraulic Properties
Abdu Yimer Yimam1,2, Desale Kidane Asmamaw4, Margaret Chen3, Seifu A Tilahun2,7, Abebech Abera Beyene2, Mekete Dessie2, Kristine Walraevens5, Enyew Adgo Tsegaye4, Amaury Frankl6, and Wim Cornelis1
Abdu Yimer Yimam et al.
  • 1Department of Environment, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium (abduyimer.yimam@ugent.be)
  • 2Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, 26, Ethiopia
  • 3Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
  • 4Department of Natural Resource Management, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, P.O. Box 79, Ethiopia
  • 5Laboratory for Applied Geology and Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • 6Department of Geography, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • 7International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Cantonments, Accra PMB CT 112, Ghana

Soil compaction is commonly viewed by agronomists as an undesirable consequence of intensive agricultural activities arising from heavy machinery or livestock trampling. However, when induced at the bottom of furrows, it might help reduce the water loss during furrow irrigation. As such, understanding of how compaction alters soil hydraulic properties is essential for developing sustainable soil and water management practices. This study aimed to investigate the impact of compaction on soil hydraulic properties of a clay-textured Nitisol. Thirty undisturbed soil samples were collected from a depth of 15 cm in Koga irrigation scheme, Ethiopia, and subjected to five compaction levels: control (0%), 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% volume reduction, each with six replicates. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured using the KSAT® apparatus with the falling head technique, while water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were measured using the HYPROP® system based on the modified evaporation method. Compaction reduced water retention and hydraulic conductivity, particularly in the wet range up to pF 3. Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased by 9% to 78% from the lowest to highest compaction level tested. Compaction also increased bulk density (8% – 40%) and relative field capacity (4% – 10%) and decreased total porosity (6% – 33%), macroporosity (28% – 82%), air capacity (25% – 61%), and plant-available water content (8% – 17%). When compared with soil quality thresholds, compaction of 15% or more reduced plant-available water below optimal range (< 0.2 m3 m-3) and lowered saturated hydraulic conductivity below the threshold (8.64 cm day-1). While this study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of furrow irrigation subjected to compaction, the findings also emphasize the need for sustainable soil management to improve crop yield and soil resilience.

Keywords: Hydraulic properties, HYPROP2®, KSAT®, Soil compaction, Soil physical quality

How to cite: Yimam, A. Y., Asmamaw, D. K., Chen, M., Tilahun, S. A., Beyene, A. A., Dessie, M., Walraevens, K., Tsegaye, E. A., Frankl, A., and Cornelis, W.: Evaluating the Effect of Compaction on Soil Hydraulic Properties, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-276, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-276, 2026.