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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Lost Moisture

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Wayne from Wi

04-16-2007 17:55:42




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Some people I have talked to strongly believe that if you chisel plow your ground in the spring instead of moldboard plow, you will lose too much soil moisture, and have less of a crop than if you moldboard plow. Is this rumor true or false? Anybody have facts or opinions on this topic? Thanks, Wayne




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Glenn FitzGerald

04-17-2007 09:58:00




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  
While I'm no expert, in Wisconsin, a poor plowing job in the fall is better than a good job in the spring; be that moldboard or chisel. Heavy fall rains and winter snow compliments fall plowing nicely. Spring plowing results in too much packing and/or moisture loss.

Glenn



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Don-Wi

04-17-2007 10:34:18




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Glenn FitzGerald, 04-17-2007 09:58:00  
Another HUGE reason to fall plow here is that it simply breaks up MUCH better if it was fall plowed. The frost just breaks up the clumps. We don't worry much about compaction when we do spring plowing, and the only reason we do it is to get 1st crop off a bad hay field before we put it in corn. It works out alright and for the most part we get an excellent stand in those fields too, even though they were in much later most times.

Perfect example- Last year, we managed to get a good chunk of our corn in in early may. Weather got cold & wet, then the seed sat in the ground for 3 weeks before it came up and we had to dif up spots in most of the fields and re-plant good portions. The stuff we got in later, be it we just didn't get to it in time or it was a hayfeild, did much better because it came out of the ground in 2-3 days and the weather was warm & moist. The coop did a better job of spraying the second time around too- Something that also had a disasterous effect on the earlier corn.

Seems if we can get it in the ground right at the end of May is the best window for us. If we do get it in earlier or later we're not particularly concerned, but we can notice quite a difference.

Donovan from Wisconsin

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Glen in TX

04-17-2007 09:13:02




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  
We would only chisel in spring for summer fallow layout for the fall crop of wheat. Otherwise chisel in fall for spring plant crop.



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JMS/MN

04-17-2007 07:18:05




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  
Best time to use either one is in the fall, especially with heavy soil. If you use a chisel in the spring, don't run it as deep as you would in the fall. Granted your soil may benefit with deep tillage if plow sole is a problem, but wait for fall for that. Spring soils are usually wet, and if heavy, will clod with major tillage. Heavy disc like an offset might be a good option for this spring. Don't want to pull up a lot of cold wet soil. With your two options, the chisel would move less soil than the plow, at the same depth. Change the points to sweeps that undercut the entire surface. Twelve inch should do that, run plow depth or less.

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Allan In NE

04-17-2007 04:10:02




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  
Oh Sure,

Stick that chisel in the ground and you'll find out in short order. :>)

Allan



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KEH

04-16-2007 18:02:54




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  

Don't know about WI, but here in the Southeast the theory is that chisel plowing goes deeper than the moldboard plow, breaks up hard pan, and allows moisture to soak in better and not run off. This, of course, assumes that it rains adequately which it didn't do last year and it's not looking too good this spring either. Also chisel plowing breaks up the soil and allows roots to grow deeper faster to get moisture.

KEH

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kyhayman

04-16-2007 17:59:31




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to Wayne from Wi, 04-16-2007 17:55:42  
Id say the opposite is true. Just like the talk of cultivating to draw moisture. Yup, sure does up and out of the ground. The more soil you disturb, the greater the evaporation. Best way to dry out a wet soil is the moldboard plow.



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KEH

04-16-2007 18:06:09




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to kyhayman, 04-16-2007 17:59:31  

Not to hijack the thread, but, Kyhayman, how is your recovery coming along?

KEH



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kyhayman

04-16-2007 19:32:45




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 Re: Lost Moisture in reply to KEH , 04-16-2007 18:06:09  
Hi, Thanks for asking. Its abysmally slow but Im still ahead of the curve. I've come to accept there are some parts of my life that are gone forever but the new parts are wide open and exciting.

I can walk, pretty much as much as I want to up to a mile or so. If I stay off the concrete maybe much more. Thats really my bane, I can only stand about an hour, then I got to sit and elevate a while. Sitting, Im good about 4 hrs on a tractor. Range is good, I got my extension back and my flex is about 110 degrees. Im in a brace until I decide I want more surgery but Im ok with that. Its not about how hard I can work any more, lifes short and mid life is as good a time to learn that as any.

As long as Im still breathing, its a good day. Thanks for asking and God bless.

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