Wheat plants boost soil stability, improving water retention and crop growth.
The study looked at how compacting sandy and clayey loam soils affects the growth of winter wheat plants. They found that the roots of wheat plants helped improve the soil's ability to hold water in both types of soil. The roots were less affected by higher soil density in clayey loam compared to sandy loam. The soil's ability to hold water decreased only when high pressure was applied. The roots also influenced the size of water-stable aggregates in the soil.