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machinery traffic on soil compaction.These effects were quanti- fied and some novel equations that could be used to do this were identified. This study of soil compaction and compactibility was extended in 1998 to the wetland soils in Trinidad especially Nariva Swamp where there were farmers who were then using heavy machinery to cultivate rice as well as deplete water in channels in the area during the dry season negatively affecting the environment of the swamp in terms of soil compression and salt water intrusion as a result of lowered water levels.The major finding from this further study was that while the increased use of tractors could increase agricultural production on wetland soils in Trinidad this will cause large scale compression and compaction. Rice is well adapted to these high levels of soil compaction and compression but since it requires irrigation during the dry season this would reduce the available water required to maintain the swamps.Large-scale production of rice was not recommended in Nariva swamp and other wetland soils. Rather a land zoning policy that allows for the cultivation of vegetables and carrying out of other farming activities in selected parts of the wetlands was preferred.This recommenda- tion formed part of the report of the environmental impact assessment of the area submitted to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. The soil compaction research studies were published in JAER Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Trans ASABE WIJE and Biosystems Engineering Journal UK. The soil compaction work was also related to the study of the physical and engineering properties of common soils used in cricket pitches in Trinidad. These properties were studied in relation to their roles in soil pace soil spin and bounce of the ball.It was found that of all the soils studiedthe Sevilla Clay was the most suitable for use in cricket pitches in Trinidad.This work was published in the WIJE in 2006 and is to be continued. Research has also been done to examine model and quantify the thermal and electrical conductivities of soils from different parts of Trinidad. These values are required in the pipe and cable laying processes now taking place in the country. Detailed research work involves the determination of the effect of compaction levels soil water content soil types and organic matter contents on these thermal and electrical conductivities and the implication of these values for the laying of under- ground pipes and cables required in the growing liquefied natural gas industry in Trinidad. The study of electrical conduc- tivities will also investigate the implications on the corrosion rates of underground pipes used in the water and other indus- tries in Trinidad. Information on this can be found in the Biosys- tems Engineering Journal Trans ASABE and the WIJE. Latest research efforts have included the engineering design construction and testing of soil erosion two and three-stack soil sieve apparatus biological filter mechanical auger soil pulveriser simple portable potable water treatment plant and water measuring devices. This equipment has been evaluated for local use has been used to test local soils and to quantify the effect of compaction effort organic matter content soil type and rainfall effects on soil transport both by overland flow and raindrops. The latest research publications have been in the Biosystems Engineering Journal WIJE and the Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago. Selected Publications Ekwue E.I. and A. Harrilal. Effect of soil type peat slope compaction effort and their interactions on infiltration runoff and raindrop erosion of some Trinidadian soils. Biosystems Engineering Journal 2010 105 112-118. Ekwue E.I. and J. Bartholomew. Electrical conductivity of some soils in Trinidad as affected by density water and peat content. Biosystems Engineering Journal 2011 108 95-103. Ekwue E.I. R. Birch and S. Bethel. Effect of Soiltac on wash erosion by overland flow of some Trinidadian soils. Biosys- tems Engineering Journal 2011 108 87-94. 71