The Rural Voice, 1990-09, Page 61LAWN -BOY.
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ADVICE
DRAWBACKS TO
SUMMER FALLOW
Summer fallow has become more
popular as a method of non -chemical
weed control. Tillage can help to reduce
the populations of annual and perennial
weeds, if it is done properly. There are,
however, some drawbacks.
The first is the loss of a cropping
season and the potential income from
that crop. Eradicating a perennial weed
like quackgrass means 5 to 7 trips over
the field at two-week intervals.
Fuel and lubricants will be required
for each pass. You must allow for your
time, and for repairs and maintenance
for the tillage implements and tractor.
A final drawback to summer fallow
is its effect on the soil. The cultivation
necessary for weed control will leave
the soil loose and open; even moderate
rainfall or wind can cause severe ero-
sion. Each tillage pass will break down
soil structure and hasten the loss of
organic matter, increasing the potential
for erosion. An extended wet spell can
force a choice between sacrificing weed
control, or working the soil when it is too
wet and causing severe compaction.
If you have weeds that cannot be
controlled chemically and you must
summer fallow, there are several things
you can do to reduce the erosion poten-
tial.
First, work the soil at a shallow depth
to avoid over -drying. Second, keep as
much residue on the surface as you can
to protect the soil from erosion. A cul-
tivator will bury less residue than a disc,
but the disc is more effective at cutting
up quackgrass rhizomes; you may find
the best compromise is to alternate be-
tween them. Do not fall plow after
summer fallowing. Deep tillage will
just bring up a fresh crop of weed seeds
and leave you back where you started.
After summer fallow, plant a crop that
will provide winter cover to give the soil
some protection.
Summer fallow is not usually "envi-
ronmentally friendly." The best ap-
proach is a combination of chemicals
and tillage with crop rotations, cover
crops, and crop competition to provide
an integrated weed control system.°
Keith Reid
Soil Conservation Advisor, Walkerton