Compaction

As of May 7^th, the United States has reached the 39% planted mark with the “I” states and Ohio making great progress in the previous few days. Still, we’re about 5% behind the national 5 year average of 44%. New York State alone is below average at 4% compared to the 10% national average, but on par with the 5% planted at this time last year.

While growers may be behind with their planting, it remains essential that we not rush planting and make sure conditions are Right for our crop. Planting in poor conditions may make you feel better about getting a crop in the ground now, but come harvest you will see the consequences. Minding soil conditions, fertility, disease, and insect pressure will start you off on the right foot for a successful 2018 growing season.

One problem with doing field work in poor conditions is compaction. The tough thing about compaction is that it is not always visible. It reduces water infiltration and water holding capacity, inhibits root growth, and prevents nutrient uptake to name a few of the issues caused by compaction. How can you determine the level of compaction? Use a penetrometer, or the cheaper option, a shovel!

There are two main types of compaction – natural (poor soil structure) and human (tillage, wheel traffic, and axle load). How can you reduce compaction? Here’s a few ways:

• Run tire pressure for field conditions, not road conditions
• Avoid driving on moist soil – pores collapse when driven upon
• Reduce axle load to at least below 10 tons whenever possible (reducing load and increasing number of axles)
• Minimize trips across the field
• Use the same tracks
• Reduce tillage / No – tillage
• Use a chisel instead of moldboard plow
• Use a field cultivator instead of disk harrow
• Rotate deep rooted crops
• Cover crops

Research shows that compaction can cause up to 15% yield loss, so making sure you are performing field work in proper conditions with the proper equipment can help reduce yield loss, improve the health of your soil, and help the plants with proper nutrient uptake.

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CaroVail Newsletter 05112018