In Quebec, the soil compaction resulting of manure spreading with high capacity spreaders has been a concern for farmers, considering that soil compaction can result in a $3 000/year lower farm income. A survey have been developed in order to verify the farmers understanding of soil compaction damages and the economical consequences of such compaction and also to verify how their understanding influenced them in their decision making process to a solution of the compaction resulting from manure spreading. Lower ground pressure spreaders and alternative liquid manure spreakers have been proposed as part of the survey with a short analysis. The results of the survey showed that in order to reduce compaction, up to 80% of the producers would consider alternative liquid manure spreaders. As most producers (up to 70%) would consider as a first choice an alternative manure application system that doesn’t use tanks (irrigation type with wide-span boom), almost half of them would reconsider their choice toward a system less expensive in investment cost. The spreader most likely to be adopted by farmers in Quebec is a 15 cubic meter capacity spreader with a tandem axle and oversized 28l-26 tires.

Links between compaction and yield losses have been made to illustrate the consequences of manure spreaders passages. Different spreaders capacity with different axles configuration and tire size are presented with the impact of such equipment on the costs and return period on investment.