They are then hung up to dry. This method is a particularly good one and used by many soil physicists. Two final points need to be discussed before I close today. First, when a soil is compacted, as under vehicle traffic, or artificially during construction, the soil structure is destroyed, partially or totally, depending upon the degree of compaction. Reduction in bulk volume occurs, and usually at the expense of all the macropores and many of the mesopores.
Bulk density is increased and water retention and movement are significantly reduced.
It was mentioned earlier that sandy soils do not compact to a large degree under most conditions. Moisture content at the time of compaction also is a major influence.