To a subsoiler

Soil compaction is one of the most serious environmental problems caused by conventional agriculture. Compaction occurs when pore space between soil particles reduces, this creates a challenging environment for crops and plants to take root and thrive. Marl soils, for example, tend to have a high moisture content and are therefore extremely prone to compaction. When soils become compacted over time due to frequent cultivation practices using heavy machinery farmers can use a tool called a subsoiler to loosen and break up compaction in deeper layers of soil. This technique is somewhat outdated and biological and regenerative methods now provide a more sustainable approach to mitigating soil compaction. This poem describes a 1960s subsoiler that I encountered abandoned in a field.