C. E. Mullins

Hardsetting Soils: Behavior, Occurrence, and Management

Hardsetting soils are soils that set to a hard, structureless mass during drying and are thereafter difficult or impossible to cultivate until the profile is re wetted. The term hardsetting, originally used when the concept was first defined, will be used here rather than the hyphenated spelling that has sometimes been used. Only in Australia is this form of behavior specifically identified, mapped, and given the name “hardsetting” (Northcote et al., 1975).