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| You only see the big plows with 2 tractors in larger fields. Thes field is only like 20 acres so in the time it takes to move in something like that and get it setup the excavator would be done and out of there. This process is unique really to this area due to the small field sizes and geology.
Actually after the trees are planted the only tillage would be a flail mower for the next 25 years. Even "no till" field crops need to open a slot each year to get the seed and fertlizer in the ground.
The reason why this is done is to prevent roots from becoming root bound as the roots hit a different layer they tend to move sideways. This process tends to give the whole field a uniform soil keeping plant devolpment even throughout the growing season.
There was an orchard planted about a mile behind these pictures where they backhoed the tree sites then came back in with a D 11 and ripped everything 5' or so, deep ripping only breaks up hard soil, deep plowing only flips in over this actually mixes ou the different stratified soil types. An extra 1000 lbs of production over 20+ years at $3.50 pays back quick.
I would assume they are planting almonds or possibly walnuts. | |
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8 foot deep tillage
