There are at least three parts to the answer. 1. The soil below the depth of the plow is slightly compacted on every trip over the field. Plowing loosens the soil above the "Plow Layer" but the soil below that layer can be compacted to the point that water has difficulty passing trough leading to wet spots in flat areas. This is especially true in areas with low spots that tend to fill as a result of leveling and plowing. Others have mentioned this possibility. 2. The soil disked or pulverized has no "Structure" due to plowing and the fill zone becomes rather cemented and impervious to water transport. Disk and tillers have a reputation for being excessively good destroyers of "Structure" due to flailing and mixing. (Structure is defined as the tendency of clay and silty soils to form larger particle clumps like earth worm pills that allows voids and channels to form for water transport. Sandy soils have a natural "Structure". Earth worms, roots, freeze/thaw cycles, and wet/dry-shrink/swell cracks create structure.) Disk and tillers break down that structure by destroying the particle clumps. Structure will reform over time but it takes time and we are talking decades left undisturbed. Sub-soilers if used in rather dry conditions can break up the plow layer allowing the rainwater to pass through. 3. Cultivated areas that were disked or tilled and then placed in grass or pasture may need periodic sub-soiler or chisel plow attention to reduce compaction and impervious conditions. The earlier disking and tilling tended to destroy structure in the upper zones and additional plowing is not always a part of grass or pasture maintenance. Large amounts of organic manure will improve soil structure by increasing earth worm activity and shrink/swell tendencies but reapplication is needed especially in warmer areas.
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Today's Featured Article - Box Plow Blues - by Tom Schwarz. One of the first implements most tractor owners obtain is the box plow. For very little money, this piece of equipment promises to plow and flatten any hill or vale on your ranch road or farm. At least that's what I thought! As simple as a box plow appears, it can be rather challenging to make work correctly. In our sandy soils of Florida, traction is king. You can never have wide enough tires or heavy enough weights to get all the traction you want � unless you own a monster tractor. U
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