Compaction

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Compaction is my number one problem, and it is the cause of most of my other problems and more compaction seems to be the net result of most of the "solutions" to compaction.

I have a big V ripper, D8 with a giant single shank ripper, grow alfalfa, etc.

My conlcusion is that the only solution is not to create it to start with.

Aiming to have tracks on everything possible, biggest tires possible on equipment, least possible number of passes, No discing, No till everything, I've accepted that field entrances are not going to produce well.

I think the long term solution is small lightweight autonomous machinery or drones not creating compaction in the first place.

[burnt]

A lfalfa

Tillage radish.

Moisture and frost. We’ve only been getting frost.

All of the above.

Mechanical means only move the problem around and does nothing for soil structure.

The roots create channels which allow more water to soak in and then crack everything up from the bottom.

it's obviously a lot tougher to correct when there isn't enough moisture in a year or more.

I wonder how long it takes to loosen it up even with ideal conditions.

I do know it's years.

Or you could prevent it this way -

[the big wheel]

Humic acids but would have to be applied
At quite high rates. Although you would be
Getting more nutrients also.

[TASFarms]

Ideas to deal with the problem?

Irrigation and fertilizer. Compaction shows big time this year

[TOM4CWB]

Humid acids but would have to be applied
At quite high rates. Although you would be
Getting more nutrients also.

We did a whole swack of Deep ripping 15 years ago… worst move ever.

We went 20” deep with auto reset rippers.

Within 2 years we had washouts over 20” deep on many of the fields… when big thunderstorms came they washed all the soil away down to the bottom… and we could not see any benefits to the crops.

Controlled traffic… with high floatation tires on grain carts, keep the big trucks off the fields….

Except on dry years like this… as there is virtually no compaction when it is very dry (down to less than 20-30% of soil water capacity) down at least 1’… it is like driving on rigmats 1’ thick when the soil is very dry like it is now.

Tandems 11-24.5 drivers with floaters 18” on the front axle are good, no trailers …as dragging all that dead weight fully loaded forces much more compaction on both the drivers… plus when the loaded trailers go on top those same drivers tracks… double jeopardy. When practical and wet ground run the combine to the gateway if possible not filling Hopper more than 75% so we get stuck less…

My Cousin who does controlled traffic farming now parks the trucks and just uses grain carts with pits or fast unload auger/belt conveyors. Off multiple combines. combines with Tracks or good wide duals are usually good enough… RWA helps too if it is soggy wet.

Just a thought.

Cheers

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Who wants to wager that the socialists won’t even open this thread

One way to find out.

Covid is definitely caused by democrats and by getting the covid vaccine. BLM rallies are the worst for compacting fields. And according to the models, climate change will make compaction much worse.
Edit, or does compaction cause global warming? Could be either way. Will definitely need to tax it, just in case

[agstar77]

So you like sarcasm?

[Sodbuster]

I think the long term solution is small lightweight autonomous machinery or drones not creating compaction in the first place.

This what I see in the near future, meanwhile back at the farm we just purchased a 980 bushel seeding cart.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

So you like sarcasm?

Not only do I like sarcasm, I also like my own post. Cursed touch screen phone, I really want my blackberry back.
Congratulations on passing the test, will be interesting to see if any of the other test subjects respond.

[agstar77]

Compaction will be the least of our problems if we don't receive moisture before next spring.