By Katie Pratt
PRINCETON, Ky., (Nov. 25, 2009) – Wet weather in September and October caused many producers to harvest corn and soybeans in less-than-ideal conditions. With the majority of this year’s crop now harvested, producers should check their fields for signs of compaction, said Lloyd Murdock, a soil scientist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Compaction occurs when soil is compressed into a smaller volume. Serious compaction can lead to nutrient deficiencies in those areas as well as yield losses in next year’s crop. “It is caused by large field equipment running over wet ground,” he said. “Since the equipments’ tires do not run over every section of the field, compaction occurs only in certain areas.”
Growers can use any type of rod to test for soil compaction. However, a penetrometer provides the most accurate results, and they are available at many county extension offices. To test for soil compaction, growers should puncture the ground with a rod in the wheel tracks. If a layer of the soil is difficult or impossible to penetrate, it is compacted. This also should be compared to penetrometer readings in the untracked soil.
To correct compaction, growers need to use a tool that goes below the compacted layer to break up the soil. If the compaction is not too deep in the soil, a chisel plow will probably do the job, but if it’s deeply compacted, growers may need a subsoiler to move the soil.
The key is waiting until the ground is dry enough to work the soil. If producers try to correct compaction while the soil is wet, it could cause additional compaction, Murdock said.
As producers check fields for compaction, they also may find large ruts caused by equipment tires on excessively wet ground. This may cause compaction concerns for some producers; however, often these types of ruts are not compacted because the soil was full of water when trafficked. If no compaction is found, producers just need to smooth out these ruts.
Showing posts with label crops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crops. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Combat acidic crop soils with lime this fall
By Aimee Nielson
Fall is the perfect time for farmers and homeowners to check their soils to determine acidity. A simple pH test can help determine if the soil needs a lime application to counteract acidity. Although soil testing may sound too complicated and scientific, it's one of the easiest things a farmer can do to keep their soils in optimum shape.
"Fall is a great time to apply lime if the pH of your soil is too low," said Frank Sikora with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Division of Regulatory Services. "Applying lime in the fall provides plenty of time to neutralize the soil acidity so the field or lawn is ready for planting in the spring."
It takes about three to six months for lime to react with soil, so a fall application will give the soil all winter to effect the desired change.
The relationship between soil pH and the health of cropland or lawns is important. Over time, soil gradually becomes more acidic. Heavy use of nitrogen fertilizers, crop residues and other organic debris can contribute to the acidity. Once the soil becomes acid, bacteria and other organisms in the soil start to diminish, and that keeps the plants from using all the nutrients the soil has to offer. The roots are no longer able to absorb all the nutrients in the soil. Correcting soil pH can effect positive change in how the plant absorbs and uses nutrients. Farmers and lawn managers may find they no longer need as much fertilizer once the soil pH is optimal.
For agricultural purposes, the University of Kentucky provides lime recommendations in tons per acre of 100 percent effective lime.
"Because agricultural lime is less than 100 percent effective in neutralizing soil acidity, lime quality needs to be taken into account when determining application rates," Sikora said.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture administers the state lime law and provides analysis of agricultural lime sold in Kentucky with a report in spring and fall each year. The lime quality is reported for each lime source as percent RNV, which stands for relative neutralizing value.
"A lime with 50 percent RNV means the lime is 50 percent as effective as pure lime," Sikora explained. "If a two-ton per acre recommendation was made for 100 percent effective lime, the farmer would need to apply four tons per acre of 50 percent effective lime."
The UK soil test lab makes calculating agricultural lime applications rates easier based on the quality of lime from specific quarries available to producers in their local county. Cooperative Extension offices in each county have this option available for their soil test reports.
Farmers should contact the UK agriculture and natural resources Cooperative Extension agent in their county with lime calculation and application questions. The agent will help get a soil test and also help the farmer determine if a field needs lime.
Fall is the perfect time for farmers and homeowners to check their soils to determine acidity. A simple pH test can help determine if the soil needs a lime application to counteract acidity. Although soil testing may sound too complicated and scientific, it's one of the easiest things a farmer can do to keep their soils in optimum shape.
"Fall is a great time to apply lime if the pH of your soil is too low," said Frank Sikora with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Division of Regulatory Services. "Applying lime in the fall provides plenty of time to neutralize the soil acidity so the field or lawn is ready for planting in the spring."
It takes about three to six months for lime to react with soil, so a fall application will give the soil all winter to effect the desired change.
The relationship between soil pH and the health of cropland or lawns is important. Over time, soil gradually becomes more acidic. Heavy use of nitrogen fertilizers, crop residues and other organic debris can contribute to the acidity. Once the soil becomes acid, bacteria and other organisms in the soil start to diminish, and that keeps the plants from using all the nutrients the soil has to offer. The roots are no longer able to absorb all the nutrients in the soil. Correcting soil pH can effect positive change in how the plant absorbs and uses nutrients. Farmers and lawn managers may find they no longer need as much fertilizer once the soil pH is optimal.
For agricultural purposes, the University of Kentucky provides lime recommendations in tons per acre of 100 percent effective lime.
"Because agricultural lime is less than 100 percent effective in neutralizing soil acidity, lime quality needs to be taken into account when determining application rates," Sikora said.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture administers the state lime law and provides analysis of agricultural lime sold in Kentucky with a report in spring and fall each year. The lime quality is reported for each lime source as percent RNV, which stands for relative neutralizing value.
"A lime with 50 percent RNV means the lime is 50 percent as effective as pure lime," Sikora explained. "If a two-ton per acre recommendation was made for 100 percent effective lime, the farmer would need to apply four tons per acre of 50 percent effective lime."
The UK soil test lab makes calculating agricultural lime applications rates easier based on the quality of lime from specific quarries available to producers in their local county. Cooperative Extension offices in each county have this option available for their soil test reports.
Farmers should contact the UK agriculture and natural resources Cooperative Extension agent in their county with lime calculation and application questions. The agent will help get a soil test and also help the farmer determine if a field needs lime.
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