I’ve been recommending for years that farmers can benefit from discontinuing conventional tillage in favor of no-till. Things are changing in that direction but it will still take some time to see a uniform change in management style.
Last week, I saw a tractor hauling a disc behind it. Although a disc will help dry the top 4-5″ of soil and allow planting, running the equipment over the wet soil will cause additional compaction. And what many don’t realize: this compaction may reduce yields for this year AND for the next 5 years or more.
Compaction has the most impact on root growth and crop yields in dry years. With adequate rainfall and soil moisture during the growing season, roots can grow through the compaction zone. But the dryer it is, the deeper roots must travel to find moisture. Compaction impedes that penetration.
Cover crops boost the potential for busting compaction, because the roots of the cover crop penetrate compacted layers in the winter, when soil is wet. Those roots create macropores that corn and soybean roots follow, allowing them to find moisture and nutrients during drier months. This can add significantly to production yields, especially in dry years.
Tags: annual ryegrass as a cover crop, conventional tillage, cover crops
June 30th, 2009 at 10:51 am
hi dan/ tell mother nature we need heet not rain.I talked to you at the no till convention in auburn indiana this past spring. I plant gulf annual rye with austrian winter peas and was scared the peas would be killed by 10deg cold. but we have snow all winter.I was suprised when they regrew over 18 in long by the time i sprayed the rye and peas with my burned down.any new ryegrass varietys on the market you think i should try. good luck larry bonnell from pittsford michigan
June 30th, 2009 at 11:05 am
i have been no tilling for 10 years and using cover crops for the last 8years..i would not go back to full tillage ever.in our area there are only afew people that no till. we have a hard time renting ground because people think thats the only way you farm. you should see the ruts caused from 4 wheel drive tractors pulling john deere drills .i have seen atractor hooked to the other tractor. this is compaction at its best thanks again larry bonnell