This has been illustrated on a compaction plot at Purdue's Agronomy Farm. In one small area of a poorly drained but well-tiled field, the subsoil was purposely compacted by removing the plow layer, ...

Research has shown that surface soil compaction effects can linger for up to five years, and subsoil compaction effects can last for 10 years or more. The ‘ball test’ is an easy way to figure ...