Fall rippping

Penetrometer

Deep tillage can be a great way to break up subsurface soil compaction and has become a common practice.  It is always worth it to determine if compaction is the problem at hand however.  Each Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture office throughout the province has a soil penetrometer that you can use for free to help you identify compaction.  These handy tools are very easy to use, just contact your local NSDA office or Agriculture Resource Coordinator (ARC) to borrow one.  Compaction layers where resistance exceeds 300 PSI (pounds per square inch) are very difficult for plant roots to penetrate and would indicate that compaction is a limiting factor in your field.

Keep in mind that ripping is only a temporary fix for compaction, and there are best management practices that can help you avoid future compaction.  This can be done by

• Avoiding operations when the field is wet
• Minimizing tillage
• Reducing axle loads
• Controlling and concentrating traffic patterns
• Decreasing contact pressure (using wide flotation tires)
• Traveling less over the field

Forces of heavy loads are transferred deep into the soil, especially when the soil is wet.  Image from Building Soil for Better Crops by F. Magdoff and H. Van Es

Deep Zone Tillage in Vegetable Production

(Please note, we are hosting a Deep Zone Tillage Workshop and Field Tour on July 28th in the Annapolis Valley. Click here for details)

Cornell University researchers have found significant advantages to preparing soils with deep zone tillage (DZT). "After over five years of trials both on farms and at Cornell research stations, we find that DZT supports similar yields to conventional tillage for sweet corn, dry beans, cabbage, squash and pumpkins, reports Cornell Horticulturist Anu Rangarajan. "We've even tested reduced tillage for organic pepper and cabbage production with positive results.

In Nova Scotia deep zone tillage has not been extensively tested. I believe that for similar reason this system might be very useful for preparing soil for many vegetable crops.

In 2011 the first commercial field of winter squash and cauliflower in Nova Scotia were prepared using deep zone tillage until. My initial observations from this system are positive. It is clear that on slopes it reduces soil erosion to a minimum while improving soil drainage.

Below are a few pictures from DZT in winter squash and cauliflower.

Winter rye cover crop after glyphosate treatment

Germinating winter squash in deep zone tillage system

Germinating weeds must be controlled before crop emergence

Cauliflower planted after winter rye cover crop

Any questions, just let me know.

Viliam