|
North Dakota | I have taken a chisel plow with thin anhydrous knives and made several rounds around the outside of on an old hay field that is mostly grass but has the occasional alfalfa plant.
It made lines in the soil 7" apart and 6 to 8 inches deep. I didn't improve any noticeable production but I now see more alfalfa plants and a little less grass.
I did this within 2 weeks after the frost was gone and pulled a land roller behind the chisel plow.
We had a spring with ample moisture but about July it mostly shut off and we are now very dry. Even now though you can still see the stark difference between the chiseled and the left alone.
That which was worked was noticeably greener than the undisturbed all season and even now that we are in drought conditions the difference is stark.
My thinking here is that by creating a very small trench in the sod it will allow the ground to store more subsoil moisture and less runoff.
Pulling the land roller behind is an attempt to kind of close the top of these cuts again to keep the wind from taking all the moisture back and also level the mole hills some.
I did this on 2 fields although like I said, the production was not noticeable but the condition of the forage was better than where it was not done all season.
It made the field a little rougher this year because it is root bound grass with some old alfalfa plants. I think doing that again and just widening the area should give me something to watch next season.
Thank you for the information. It is very helpful in understanding what and why things occur.
| |
|
Alfalfa
