Clinton News-Record, 1985-3-20, Page 40.$.9 RamEdi W of March 20, 198
Trash whippers ers on planter remove residue to clear area, for planting. .
from page 5
the plants, it keeps the soil cooler and sludge
damage is nue prevalent, says Traut.
If 'the trash whipper is used too deep, a
trench is created because too much Cop soil is
moved away and water nuns down the channel
even in level areas, Traut warns. This will
cause erosion and cooler, wetter soil which
makes it important to move the residue away
from the row.
Francis Hogan who had a ridge crop of corn
last year did no plowing or discing and finds
the far less tillage and ridge planting to be an
effective soil erosion control. Hogan formed
the ridges the previous fall to a height of six
inches.
A spectral scraper on the planter clears and
levels the top of the ridge to free it of residue
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and permit the planting unit to stay on top of
the ridge. Chopped corn stalks lay in between
the rows where they are discarded by the
deflectors on the planter. If the stalks are not
chopped, the residue will remain on top of the
ridge keeping the soil cooler and wetter than
desired for early germination and emergence..
A clean area to plant the seed into on top of
the ridge causes the soil to warm up fast in
the spring and germination occurs with
excellent emergence, according to Robert
Traut. Channels full of residue along side the
ridges slow the water flow, stop erosion and
residue soaks up water, holding the moisture
for the planted soil.
Some interesting observations were made
by Francis during the growing season,
particularly during an intense rain storm. He
observed the ridge planted trial remained for
the longest period of time without water
standing between the ridges. The residue was
able to soak up the rain fall and release it
slowly the following day. In the trial area,
which had 'r , ,'' • 4;4 twice, codon led
to poor infnl ion of water and more runoff
which caused .t•t t re erosion.
Rands ,r"d no observe much difference
between the no -till and the ridges. Some of
the rows had . n tramped more by the
combine the previo fall, and at one point
during the sumrrner, - r uced growth in the
rows could be obs :'r in the no -till. Overall
growth throughout . ch trial was even. Weed
control was emelt „ and insects and diseases
were not a problem.
Traut says the farmers who are using these
two methods of conservation tillage have
found better natural drainage
or ridge planting. The natural openings are
not disturbed and water can percolate down
through the soil. Moisture drains better and
the'soil holds rooistu a longer.
No -till works with sandy soil, says Traut,
reasonably well with loam and well with clay
soils. It can create problems with wet day
however, Traut believes the small ridge to be
most effective. Most times a ridge obtained
by scuffling once is all that's required- Fach
fanner has toexperiment to evolve a conser-
vation production package to suit the needs of
his soil.
Lawrence Hogan has built a berm structure
to prevent soil erosion on a water course. The
turn to page 23
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