A review of compaction effect on subsurface processes in soil: Implications on stormwater treatment in roadside compacted soil

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2023-02, Vol.858 (Pt 3), p.160121, Article 160121
• Main Authors: Das, Tonoy K., Kabir, Alija, Zhao, Weiyang, Stenstrom, Michael K., Dittrich, Timothy M., Mohanty, Sanjay K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Green infrastructure; Greenhouse gas emission; Pollutant removal; Stormwater treatment; Sustainable cities; Urban soil compaction
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160121

Sustainable cities require spacious infrastructures such as roadways to serve multiple functions, including transportation and water treatment. This can be achieved by installing stormwater control measures (SCM) such as biofilters and swales on the roadside compacted soil, but compacted soil limits infiltration and other functions of SCM. Understanding the effect of compaction on subsurface processes could help design SCM that could alleviate the negative impacts of compaction. Therefore, we synthesize reported data on compaction effects on subsurface processes, including infiltration rate, plant health, root microbiome, and biochemical processes. The results show that compaction could reduce runoff infiltration rate, but adding sand to roadside soil could alleviate the negative impact of compaction. Compaction could decrease the oxygen diffusion rate in the root zone, thereby affecting plant root activities, vegetation establishment, and microbial functions in SCM. The impacts of compaction on carbon mineralization rate and root biomass vary widely based on soil type, aeration status, plant species, and inherent soil compaction level. As these processes are critical in maintaining the long-term functions of SCM, the analysis would help develop strategies to alleviate the negative impacts of compaction and turn road infrastructure into a water solution in sustainable cities. [Display omitted] •Compaction decreased infiltration capacity but adding sand restored the capacity.•Moderate compaction appeared to have a limited impact on root biomass.•Compaction could reduce plant uptake of N and P and increase nutrient export.•Compaction decreased oxygen diffusion by 36.2 %.•Compaction would increase emission of greenhouse gases from soils.