Download Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation

Soil Tillage, Land
Preparation, and
Conservation
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Crop productivity is determined by how
soil is managed
1.
Good land management is a combination of
tillage, cropping systems, and soil treatments.
2.
Tillage is the mechanical handling of soil to
provide a favorable environment for plant
growth
Soil Moisture can affect effectiveness of tillage
systems
3.
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Terms that relate to Tillage
A.
B.
Hardpans: Hardened layers of soil
1. Can cause water penetration problems
2. Can be broken up by chisels or soil savers
to improve water drainage and penetration
Crusts: Surface layers of soil that are harder
and more compact than soil located below them
1. Slow water penetration and drainage
2. Can be broke to allow seeds to emerge
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Terms that relate to Tillage
A.
Crop Residue: Portion of crop plants remaining
after harvest
1. Leaves, stems, stubble, straw, chaff, and
Roots
2. Adds Organic matter content of soil
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Cultivation is the tillage between
seedlings emergence and crop harvest
Advantages of Cultivation:
1. Weed Control
2. Temporarily improve water infiltration, soil
aeration, conservation of soil moisture, loosen
compacted soils, and aid in insect control
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Cultivation is the tillage between
seedlings emergence and crop harvest
Disadvantages of Cultivation:
1.
Loss of organic matter
2.
Destruction of plant roots
Soil Tillage, Land Preparation,
and Conservation
Major Objectives of Tillage are to
improve soil tilth, provide weed control,
and manage crop residue
A.
B.
Management of crop residue can be achieved
by chopping/cutting and mixing the crop
residues into the soil profile.
Tillage for weed control is effective and
removes weeds that would compete for water,
nutrients, and space
Other Objectives of Tillage
C.
Tillage to improve soil tilth is important in order
to provide a uniform seedbed for planting
depth control
D.
Soil Aeration to improve oxygen supply
E.
Moisture Management
F.
Increase insect control by burying crop residue
Other Objectives of
Tillage
G. Erosion Control
1.
2.
Crop residues decrease soil erosion
Roughened soil surface decreases soil
erosion
Different Tillage Equipment
Tillage is done for several different
purposes and with a variety of
equipment
A.
B.
The plow may be used in the first step of
seedbed preparation. It inverts the soil and
covers crop residues.
Disks are used to reduce clod size by using
shearing and pressure. It smooths and levels
the soil and destroys small weeds.
Different Tillage Equipment
C.
The harrow function is to further reduce the
size of the soil clod. It also can be used to
smooth and level the soil.
D.
A Chisel plow is a type of plow that uses a long
shank to turn ground over and break up hard
pans.
Seedbed Preparation
Good seedbed preparation is essential
for successful field and garden sowing
A.
B.
C.
A seedbed should have a loose, but fine
physical texture that gives close contact
between the soil and the seed
This will allow soil moisture to be supplied
continually to the seed
It will allow adequate aeration without drying
too rapidly
Depth of Planting
Depth of planting is critical in that it will
determine the rate of emergence and the
density of the stand
1.
2.
3.
If the seed is planted too shallow it may dry too
rapidly
If it is planted too deep, emergence of the seed
will be delayed or may not emerge at all
Depth of planting is determined by the kind and
size of the seed, the condition of the seedbed,
and the environment at planting time
Depth of Planting
Continued
4.
A rule of thumb is to plant seeds to a depth of
“FOUR TIMES ITS AVERAGE DIAMETER”
5.
Remember that the proper environment for
seed germination requires, available moisture,
proper temperature, a supply of oxygen and
(sometimes) light
ANY QUESTIONS???