Soil Compaction and Traffic Intensity Influence Microbial Activity and Diversity in Controlled and Non‐Controlled Traffic Farming Systems

Javoreková, S., Maková, J., Artimová, R., Galambošová, J., Macák, M., Rataj, V., Antille, D.L. and Medo, J. (2026) Soil Compaction and Traffic Intensity Influence Microbial Activity and Diversity in Controlled and Non‐Controlled Traffic Farming Systems. Soil Use and Management, 42 (3). ISSN 0266-0032

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Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assessed the effects of traffic intensity in controlled and non‐controlled traffic farming systems on selected soil physico‐chemical and microbiological properties to determine impacts on soil processes and function. The study focused on changes in microbial biomass carbon, respiration and metabolic quotient, enzymatic activity, number of cultivable microorganisms and the prokaryotic microbiome in soil, and their interaction with soil physico‐chemical properties. A long‐term experimental site established in Slovakia in 2009 enabled four traffic treatments to be compared. The traffic treatments were: (A) Permanent crop beds (zero‐traffic) of the controlled traffic farming (CTF) system; (B) One machine pass per year, representing a low traffic intensity scenario of a non‐controlled traffic farming system (non‐CTF); (C) Permanent traffic lanes of the CTF system; and (D) Multiple machine passes per year, representing a high traffic intensity scenario of a non‐CTF system. Soil samples from the 0–0.15 m depth interval were collected in spring and autumn between 2020 and 2022 and selected physico‐chemical and microbial properties were routinely measured to determine the effects of traffic treatments on soil microbial activity and biocenosis. Results showed that increased compaction in trafficked soil reduced microbial biomass carbon and the abundance of microorganisms, particularly of vegetative bacteria, rapidly growing microscopic fungi and actinomycetes. However, there was no significant effect of traffic on enzymatic activity. This observation was attributed to increased phosphatase activity in response to compaction (in the treatment order D>C>B>A). There were also increased dehydrogenase activity and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis in treatments with the highest traffic intensities (namely: C and D). The prokaryotic community diversity (Shannon index and Pielou's evenness) increased to a greater extent in treatments C and D compared with A and B ( p < 0.05), which mainly reflected changes in community evenness rather than community richness. These results indicated high resilience of prokaryotic communities in response to soil and mechanisation management practices (shallow soil cultivation for incorporation of crop stubble) in controlled and non‐controlled traffic farming systems. Seasonal environmental conditions exerted a stronger influence on the variables measured than traffic‐induced soil compaction, whose effects were transient.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	arable soil, bacterial diversity, microbial activity, microbial biomass, soil compaction
Divisions:	Departments > Engineering
Depositing User:	Mrs Rachael Giles
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2026 08:45
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2026 08:45
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18414

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