Posted by fixerupper on July 14, 2016 at 10:35:02 from (100.42.83.79):
In Reply to: Worn out soil posted by Danny Prosser on July 14, 2016 at 09:55:59:
Our top soil was formed through thousands of years of dead plant matter working into the ground without tillage. It can not be built back up to where it was in our lifetime but we can help it out. Adding organic matter does help but like Paul said the nitrogen will be used up in the decomposition process. Through the years we have buried a few farm building sites on this farm. Some of the burial was done right, with the topsoil pushed back over the top of the trench and some was not done right where the soil from down below with no organic matter ended up on top of the trench. This heavy slimy yellow clay soil from down deep didn't grow much at all for crops so as an experiment I layered it heavy with manure and seeded alfalfa. Three years later the alfalfa winter killed so I plowed it up and put a crop in. The crop planted over the trenches looked just as good as the other crops. It did not yield as well but at least it looked good. My assumption is the manure added some organic material and the alfalfa roots went down deep, opening the soil and fixing nitrogen. When the alfalfa roots decomposed voids were left in the soil where the roots used to be. Come to think of it, some of the farmers who use cover crops here in NWIA use what they call a tillage turnip in the cover crop mix. A tillage turnup grows like crazy and sends a big old tap root into the ground. When the turnip dies it leaves a hole in the ground where the root used to be and the decayed root helps to add organic matter. Just a few thoughts.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Grain Threshing in the Early 40's - by Jerry D. Coleman. How many of you can sit there and say that you have plowed with a mule? Well I would say not many, but maybe a few. This story is about the day my Grandfather Brown (true name) decided along with my parents to purchase a new Ford tractor. It wasn't really new except to us. The year was about 1967 and my father found a good used Ford 601 tractor to use on the farm instead of "Bob", our old mule. Now my grandfather had had this mule since the mid 40's and he was getting some age on him. S
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
