Samuel Bickel

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Samuel Bickel is a leading voice in sustainable soil management, with a research focus on the hidden physical degradation of agricultural soils under conservation practices. His work critically examines the trade-offs of no-till farming, revealing that while it reduces surface erosion, it can paradoxically increase the risk of deep subsoil compaction—a largely invisible threat to long-term soil health and crop productivity. His most-cited paper, "The invisible subsoil compaction risk under no-till farming" (2025, 5 citations), challenges prevailing assumptions by demonstrating how the absence of mechanical loosening allows heavy machinery to create persistent, dense layers below the plow zone. This contribution has reshaped the conversation around conservation agriculture, urging a more nuanced view of its benefits. Bickel’s research bridges agronomy, soil physics, and environmental science, offering practical insights for farmers and policymakers. Though early in his career, his work signals a significant shift toward diagnosing hidden risks in widely adopted land management systems, making him a rising authority in the field of soil conservation and precision agriculture.