The Imants Penetrometer is a hand held, professional compaction meter to locate and monitor the compaction levels in the soil / root zone. Understanding the degree of compaction enables the right procedures to be taken to eliminate excessive levels. Lack of air in compacted soil is a major problem, as the roots need access to oxygen for survival. As a rule of thumb, compaction greater than 285 psi will cause problems and action should be taken to relieve the compaction in the root zone.