{"id":17965,"date":"2024-02-09T16:05:54","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actisol-agri.fr\/?p=17965"},"modified":"2025-09-24T10:21:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T08:21:19","slug":"soil-decompactor-or-soil-cracker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actisol-agri.fr\/en\/soil-decompactor-or-soil-cracker\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil decompactor or soil cracker ?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Soil decompactor or soil cracker ?<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Among the machines dedicated to conservation farming, you’ve probably already heard of the soil decompactor and soil cracker. Find out more about these machines below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Pullout caused by the passage of a decompactor through a treatment passageway<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is a decompactor ?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A decompactor<\/strong> is deep soil farming equipment<\/strong> used to break up plough beds. Its straight, rigid teeth, fitted with square bar or blades, usually operate at a depth of between 20 and 30cm, usually under the sole.<\/p>

The decompactor is often referred to as a “loosener<\/strong>” because it works the soil by lifting or even tearing it up. As it passes through, the soil horizons break up into several pieces, creating hollow areas and destructuring. This action can also lead to significant smoothing if the teeth is fitted with a blade that is too wide or if conditions are poor. So it’s important to identify your soil problems before using this type of equipment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Finally, the decompactor is regularly used in combination with seeding tools, as it is ideal for “lifting” tractor wheel tracks. At a moderate depth, damage to the soil is reduced.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The differences between a decompactor and a soil cracker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Decompactor or soil cracker ? It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between these two items of equipment, even though they are opposites in terms of agronomy. A decompactor is often presented as the equivalent of a cracking equipment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The decompactor<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As mentioned above, the decompactor requires a great deal of tractive power due to its deeper work and the weight of certain types of equipment. As a result, fossil fuel consumption is higher and greenhouse gas emissions are proportionately equivalent. This equipment aerates the soil, improves drainage and breaks up plough soles.<\/p>

But decompacting the soil<\/strong> requires extra care. We strongly advise against decompacting with heavy equipment in wet conditions, as this can smooth the soil and cause it to settle. Breaking up the soil when a decompactor passes over it mixes up the horizons and disrupts the life of the organisms living there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The soil cracker<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The soil cracker<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0works vertically with the Actisol<\/strong> straight teeth (20 to 30cm), creating a fissuring wave without turning the soil over, so without disturbing the horizons. It will generate a slight expansion of the surface which will encourage exchanges with the atmosphere. A decompactor, on the other hand, can leave blocks that are difficult to rework in dry conditions.<\/p>

This action oxygenates the soil and encourages mineralisation by preserving the living organisms in place. It therefore restructures the soil gently. Its lower traction requirements help to reduce fossil fuel consumption and, by extension, greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why choose a soil cracker cracker over a compactor ?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Decompacting your soil with a soil cracker is part of the logic of conservation agriculture<\/strong>. The main objective is to respect the natural organisation of the soil. The aim is to decompact the soil while preserving its horizons.<\/p>

This technique is appreciated by agrobiologists because it :<\/p>