We used to call it the “Swamp Buggy,” otherwise politely known as the sprayer. We’d run down to the end of the driveway when it passed through town and wave like kids trying to stop an ice cream truck (also not-so-politely known as the “ding ding man”). Today, inspired by the sound of the swamp buggy approaching town, I decided to look into the effects of these two different front tires on soil compaction.

According to the University of Minnesota, some soil compression can be good: it can speed up the rate of seed germination and reduce water loss. Excessive soil compaction can, however, adversely affecting crop yields. And, the number one cause of soil compaction on fields is wheel traffic.

According to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Crop Watch report, the wider and taller a tire is, the better, as it will have a larger footprint on the soil surface and spread out the weight. Large, single tires are preferred over duals as duals often increase the total axle weight and have a “pinch row” between them.

Then, here are some test results published from Penn State: Dual tractor tires, compared to single tires, decrease pressure on soil, but the affected area is at least twice as large…Testing at USDA’s National Tillage Laboratory indicate there is no crop yield increase for dual tires over single tires. But, by spreading the weight over more axles, deep compaction is reduced or eliminated. Which also has big benefits.

This is a picture of two sprayers our family farming operation runs (the swamp buggy is on the left). I guess they couldn’t decide which one was best either.

Until we walk again…