The type of soil strength characteristic (. the variation of soil strength with soil water content) favourable to crop growth depends on both the amount and the distribution of the annual rainfall, and on the nature of the crop. The soil must have sufficient mechanical strength to provide adequate anchorage for the plant throughout its development, and to prevent the collapse of soil water and air pathways by soil overburden pressure and the weight of vehicle and animal traffic. Dense regions of high strength may limit root growth and crop.
