The trafficking of soils by industrial equipment generally causes an increase in soil density and loss of soil structure. The effects of moderate to severe compaction and loss of soil structure on the hydrological and ecological function of soils 10- to 20 cm below the surface is not expected to recover naturally without intervention. The restoration of the soil physical environment as deep as reasonably possible to reduce the impaired hydrologic function is of upmost importance in restoring sustainable forest and ecological function to these sites. The objective of this technical note is to describe and illustrate best management practices for the use of RipPlows for deep soil tillage, the conditions that limit their use and effectiveness, practices that fail to optimize their effectiveness, and practices to improve operational productivity.
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