Name three common signs of soil compaction affecting plant health.

• A. Poor infiltration and drainage, shallow root systems, and water runoff pooling after rain
• B. Excellent infiltration and drainage, deep roots, and no runoff
• C. Rapid growth and wide-spread rooting
• D. High soil porosity and air movement

Answer: (A)

Soil compaction reduces pore space, which disrupts how air, water, and roots move through the soil. The three common signs reflecting this are poor infiltration and drainage (water has trouble soaking in and may pool or drain slowly), shallow root systems (roots stay near the surface where the soil is less dense and cannot penetrate deeper due to the compacted layer), and water runoff pooling after rain (surface water collects because infiltration is hindered by the compacted soil). These occur because the dense soil blocks pore connectivity, limits oxygen for roots, and physically restricts root growth. The other options describe conditions that would indicate healthy soil or unrelated effects, such as excellent drainage, deep rooting, no runoff, or rapid growth, which do not align with soil compaction.