Fossetage

Fossetage is a geomorphological term used to describe the formation and appearance of shallow, elongated depressions or furrows on soil and surface materials, often referred to as fossettes. The word derives from the French fosette, meaning a small ditch, with the suffix -age indicating a process or condition. In practice, fossetage denotes a landscape texture produced by repetitive mechanical action or natural processes that create a network of fine, linear depressions.

The formation of fossetage typically involves repeated traffic or disturbance on soft surfaces (such as unpaved roads, pastures, or cultivated fields) combined with environmental factors like rainfall, surface runoff, and freeze‑thaw cycles. The resulting furrows are usually shallow, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters in depth, and align with the direction of movement or flow. Fossetage can alter surface drainage, concentrate water, and modify soil structure over time.

In sedimentary and soil science contexts, fossetage is considered an indicator of surface disturbance and soil compaction, and it may precede more extensive erosion or gully development if unmanaged. Management approaches focus on reducing disturbance, improving surface drainage, stabilizing the surface, and reestablishing vegetation or ground cover to limit further furrow formation. In some literature, fossetage is discussed alongside related processes such as furrowing, trampling, and rill erosion. See also: furrow, rill erosion, soil erosion, trampling.