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Central WA | Well managed fallow leaves a dry layer at the soil surface during the hot and dry season of the year that soil moisture does not migrate through to evaporate. Weeds are killed so they don't use any soil moisture either. As little tillage as possible is done because tillage also causes moisture loss. My friend in the 9 inch rainfall area tells me he tries to make no more than three tillage passes between crops. He runs sweeps after harvest to kill any residual crop or weeds and open up the ground for moisture to infiltrate through the winter. In the spring a light pass of roundup early is followed by a pass with a rod weeder as the weather heats up to establish a dry surface layer and kill late emerging weeds. Then in early fall he plants through that dry layer and whatever residue has survived into moisture. When done right the crop has the use of two seasons of accumulated soil moisture. We generally do not get the hard, run-off causing rains here in eastern Washington that are common in points east.
Clovis | |
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John's World on US Farm Report.. "Summer Fallow is outdated?!?"
