You can effectively 'stomp ground' in forest biomes while holding a stockpile item, without having to plow it first. Doing so seems to cost a number of held stockpile items, either in hand or inventory.
I don't know if it's exclusive to forest biomes, have not tested.
The effect is replicable following these steps;
• hold stockpile-able item, right click to activate placement
• hold shift, right click ground
• watch ground change