Quantifying the Structural Deformation of Agricultural Soil Compacted by Deflated Tractor Tires using X-ray Computed Tomography

农业拖拉机和设备的不断扩大，与更大规模的生产系统相关联，正在**促进加拿大国内和全球农业土壤的紧实化。减少车轮紧实度的实用策略之一是降低轮胎压力，从而在**更大的区域内分配相同的重量。Agribrink最近开发了一种新的轮胎压力控制系统，称为自动充气**放气(AAID)，它可以使轮胎在不到目前市场上类似**系统所需时间的四分之一内放气。为了完善其AAID**系统的推荐操作参数，AgriBrink需要更好地了解因车轮放气而发生的土壤压实**在面积/深度和影响程度方面。这项研究将使用高分辨率X射线CT扫描**来量化使用AAID系统的放气轮胎与非放气轮胎相比对中等质地(壤质)土壤的**结构的影响，并建立应用CT**成像来表征车轮交通对土壤结构的影响的标准方法。这项研究的结果将为**AgriBrink提供必要的信息和技术，以提高其**AAID系统在不同土壤和水分条件下的有效性和效率。这最终将使他们能够更有效地**针对国内和**国际更广泛的市场**改进他们的产品和建议的操作参数，从而有助于减少土壤退化以及农业生产和环境的相关成本。

The increasing size of farm tractors and equipment, associated with larger-scale production systems, is**contributing to the compaction of agricultural soils, both within Canada and globally. One of the practical**strategies to reduce wheel compaction, is to lower tire pressure, thereby distributing the same weight over a**larger area. Agribrink has recently developed a new tire pressure control system, called Automatic Air Inflation**Deflation (AAID), which allows tires to be deflated within less than a quarter of the time needed for similar**systems currently on the market. In order to refine the recommended operation parameters of their AAID**system, AgriBrink requires a better understanding soil compaction occurring in response to deflated wheels,**both in terms of area/depth and degree of impact. This research will employ high-resolution x-ray CT scanning**to quantify the impact of tires deflated using the AAID system, compated with non-deflated tires, on the**structure of medium-textured (loamy) soils, and to establish a standard methodology for the application of CT**imaging to characterize the impact of wheel traffic on soil structure. The results of this research will provide**AgriBrink with the information and technique necessary to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their**AAID system for diverse soils and moisture conditions. This will ultimately allow them to more effectively**refine their product and recommended operation parameters, for broader markets both nationally and**internationally, thereby contributing to a reduction in soil degradation and the associated cost to agriculture**production and the environment.