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Changes in soil physical properties (bulk density, cone penetration resistance, and infiltration rate) were used to investigate the effect of three different vehicle parameters. These parameters include tillage treatments (no-till, rotary tillage, and moldboard plowing), axle load (loaded and unloaded grain cart), and tire inflation pressure (high and low inflation pressures). Soil response to these parameters was measured between 0-480 mm depth. The results obtained from the experimental data showed that dry bulk density and cone penetration resistance were affected from 0-240 mm depth by axle load and tillage treatments. However, dry bulk density and cone penetration resistance were affected from 240-480 mm depth by tire inflation pressure and axle load. The loaded vehicle with high tire inflation pressure on no-till plot had the greatest effect while, the unloaded vehicle with low tire inflation pressure on rotary tilled plots had the lowest effect.

The soil response to traffic loads as affected by tire inflation pressure, track width and drawbar pull was measured. The change in soil physical properties caused by a John Deere 8870 tractor at two tire pressure settings and CATERPILLAR Challenger 65 and 75 tractors with 64 and 89 cm wide belt tracks, were measured at two load levels; no draft (tractor only) and tractor pulling a 12.5 m field cultivator. The Ohio State University Soil Physical Properties Measurement System was used to measure cone penetration resistance, air permeability, air-filled porosity, and bulk density. The results show the dual overinflated tires caused the greatest change, followed by the CATERPILLAR Challenger 65 track, then the CATERPILLAR Challenger 75 track, and finally dual correctly inflated tires caused the least effect on soil physical properties. These results were consistent at each depth. The effects of the two draft levels give the same ranking of the tractive units.