Introduction
Compacted soils increase the risk of waterlogging.  Crop cultivations and field operations should be managed to minimise the risk of compaction.  Waterlogged soils are damaging to plant health, roots are restricted and may die, crops become stressed and nutrient uptake is reduced. In potatoes, waterlogging may increase the incidence of tuber rot diseases.

Well-structured soils high in organic matter are less prone to waterlogging. To promote good drainage and rapid root development through the soil profile, growers should aim to create a porous structure in the seedbed directly below and to the sides of the seeds or transplants. 

Effective field drainage systems are required and irrigation should be managed carefully to prevent over-watering.

On late harvested root crops, such as sugar beet and potatoes, post harvest waterlogging may occur if the soil has been wet at harvest.  The risk of waterlogging, erosion and runoff can be minimised by dragging a shallow tine through the land to allow water to permeate into the soil.

Waterlogging as it applies to different sectors

Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most sensitive crops to damage caused by waterlogging.  Compacted soils increase the risk of waterlogging, and when this happens the crop cannot uptake nutrients, leading to reduced crop canopy and yield.  Additionally, waterlogging may lead to an increased incidence of tuber rot disease.

Horticulture
Waterlogged soils are damaging to good plant health, with drilled crops particularly prone to damage after drilling and as seedlings emerge. Roots die in waterlogged soils, crops become stressed and nutrient uptake is reduced. Damaging root diseases such as Phytophthera spp . develop in waterlogged soils. Well-structured soils high in organic matter are less prone to waterlogging. To promote good drainage and rapid root development through the soil profile, growers should aim to create a porous structure in the seedbed directly below and to the sides of the seeds or transplants.  Effective field drainage systems are required and crop cultivations should be designed to minimise compaction. Raised bed systems help to reduce soil waterlogging. Irrigation should be managed to prevent over-watering.

Cereals and Oilseeds
A good, loamy, permeable soil that is easily cultivated can suffer from water-logging in winter because it has a clay substrate, so it needs to be tended carefully. Below heavily compacted layers (35 - 45 cms depth) there is usually little evidence of either root or earthworm penetration.  The impact on crop production would be two-fold. In wet years crops might suffer water-logging, because the water cannot drain efficiently.  In dry years they might be drought stressed, because the plants simply will not have an effective, deep root system through which to draw up moisture from deeper in the soil profile.  Some earthworm species open up deep channels a metre down and more, which play a significant role in helping the soil's natural ability to drain.

Sugar
Sugar beet is generally grown on soils with good drainage so waterlogging, except when caused by slaking and capping, is not common. However, waterlogging commonly occurs post harvest if the soil has been wet, dragging a tine through the land can allow water to sink into the soil making preparation for the following crop possible.

Pigs
Soils where the whole root zone is prone to water-logging are not ideally suited to outdoor pig keeping and tend to be avoided by pig farmers.  Where water-logging is likely, then management plans need to take this into account and good practice followed.