SOU

RC

E: STAT

US O

F TH

E W

OR

LD’S SO

IL RE

SOU

RC

ES - M

AIN

RE

PO

RT

Soil compactionIncrease in density and a declineof macro-porosity in soil that impairssoil functions and impedes root penetration and water and gas exchange.

Soil compaction can reduce crop yieldsby as much as 60%.Agricultural mismanagement (80%)and overgrazing (16%) are the two major causative factors of human induced soil compaction.

4% of theglobal land area

is estimatedto be compacted

MINIMUM-TILLAGE AGRICULTUREIS AMONG THE TOP OPTIONS TO REDUCE TILLAGE COSTS, CONSERVE SOIL AND WATER,INCREASE SOIL ORGANIC CARBON POOLS,AND REDUCE NET CO2 EMISSIONS

2016

SOIL THREATSSoil compaction

LACLatin America

and the Caribbean

NANorthAmerica

SSAsub-Saharan Africa

NENANear East and

North Africa

E Europe and Eurasia

SPSouthwest

Pacific

AAsia

GoodFairPoorVerypoor

Condition TrendImproving Deteriorating Variable Stable ©

FAO

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