CONCLUSIONS 



1. Significant damage was* inflicted on alfalfa and red clover 

 plants when they were subjected to tractor traffic. 



2. Increasing the area of tire contact, increased the number 

 of plants damaged. 



.'5. Slippage of the drive wheel is not as important a factor as 

 weight. The two combined, however, inflict more damage 

 tban weight alone. 



4. Minimum pressures to elminate damage are well Iielow 

 average tractor tire contact pressures. 



5. Damaged plants continue to grow, hut at a slower rate and 

 yield much lower than undamaged plants. 



6. Plant crowns are severely damaged and may he more sus- 

 ceptible to disease. 



7. Field traffic, where j)lants will be damaged, should be re- 

 duced to a mininuim. 



13 



