What term describes soil that has been pressed down tightly, removing air pockets and preventing water penetration?

What term describes soil that has been pressed down tightly, removing air pockets and preventing water penetration?

• A. Soil Compaction
• B. Desertification
• C. Lithification
• D. Erosion

Answer: (A)

Soil compaction is the condition described here. When soil is pressed tightly, the spaces between particles—air pockets—are squeezed out, reducing porosity and permeability. With fewer and smaller pores, water has a harder time infiltrating the soil, so penetration is hindered and surface runoff can increase. This compacted state also makes it harder for roots to grow and for water to drain, which is why compacted soil often feels hard and holds moisture poorly. The other terms describe different processes. Desertification involves the broader decline of land productivity due to drought and other factors; lithification is the transformation of loose sediments into rock; erosion is the removal and transport of soil by wind or water.

Soil compaction is the condition described here. When soil is pressed tightly, the spaces between particles—air pockets—are squeezed out, reducing porosity and permeability. With fewer and smaller pores, water has a harder time infiltrating the soil, so penetration is hindered and surface runoff can increase. This compacted state also makes it harder for roots to grow and for water to drain, which is why compacted soil often feels hard and holds moisture poorly.

The other terms describe different processes. Desertification involves the broader decline of land productivity due to drought and other factors; lithification is the transformation of loose sediments into rock; erosion is the removal and transport of soil by wind or water.