plow sole

pedology

Also known as: hardpan

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July 1, 2026

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A plow sole, also known as a plow pan, is a compacted layer of earth that forms at the bottom of a furrow at the same depth as plowing. This compacted layer can hinder water infiltration and root development.12

Pedology is the scientific study of soils, encompassing their physical and chemical properties, the role of organisms, and their origin and formation. It includes subdisciplines like soil chemistry, physics, and microbiology. For study, soils are conceptualized as modules called pedons, the smallest landscape element that can be called soil, with lateral dimensions of 1 to 10 square meters. Groups of similar pedons are called polypedons.34

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agricultural technology
Tilling
…may create a hardpan, or plow sole; that is, a compacted layer just below the zone disturbed by tillage. Such layers are more prevalent with increasing levels of mechanization; they reduce crop yields and must be shattered, allowing water to be stored in and below the shattered zone for later…
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…may create a hardpan, or plow sole; that is, a compacted layer just below the zone disturbed by tillage. Such layers are more prevalent with increasing levels of mechanization; they reduce crop yields and must be shattered, allowing water to be stored in and below the shattered zone for later…
Read More