A protocol for rapid evidence synthesis into soil loosening as an intervention to ameliorate compaction caused by dairy farming and the impacts of this for productivity and sustainability

This is a protocol for a rapid review of the effectiveness of soil loosening to ameliorate compaction caused by cattle treading from dairy production on UK dairy farms. The review will synthesise relevant literature that explores the impacts that can be derived from mechanical soil loosening for improved soil quality, productivity (i.e. yield) and the environment. The protocol outlines the rationale, objectives, inclusion criteria, search strategy and screening processes for the meta-analysis, and the plans for data extraction, risk of bias and data synthesis approaches.