The Rural Voice, 1997-04, Page 69The most visible of the soils life
forms are the earthworms. These
individuals are known as nature's
plows. As they work the soil through
their bodies they mix soils and make
the nutrients more available to plant
roots. Just as these creatures work so
too do the bacteria and fungi. While
we associate these with diseases in
plants and animals, there are many
beneficial actions that they perform.
These break down dead plant
material by consuming it as a food
source. As they in turn die and decay
or are consumed, the nutrients in their
bodies are released to the soil system
to be absorbed by plant roots. There
are many mutually helpful or
symbiotic relationships set up
between root hairs and bacteria or
fungi which allow both to survive
better.
Where do we fit into this
equation? Our choice of crops that
are grown will help to determine
which species are favoured and will
provide the food source for that
growth. Our management of the soil
surface will determine the conditions
underground. A good soil cover will
preserve moisture, prevent erosion
and provide a good food source for
the life forms in the soil. Keeping
forages in the rotation will provide
both a perennial soil cover and an
excellent source of material to be
decayed by the soil life. As this
happens soil structure is maintained
or improved. Good soil structure not
only improves crop production as
root systems become more efficient
but also allows more field workdays
for operations such as planting and
harvesting.
I saw a quote once which called
this type of soil life "managing the
smallest livestock on your farm." It is
importhnt to try to keep these all
working in your favour. Your
"smallest livestock" are the beginning
of the food chain within your fields
and your operation. Manage them
we11.0
Gas can safety alert!
If you have a pick-up truck with a
bed liner, never fill a gas can in the
box of the truck!
Reports say that ignition can occur
68 THE RURAL VOICE
Advice
when a spark results from the buildup
of static electricity created by the
flowing gasoline. The plastic liner
prevents grounding of the charge.
Always place a gasoline container
on the ground prior to filling. Put the
nozzle into the container as far as it
will go. This will minimize mixing of
oxygen with the gas — the fuel -rich
situation reduces potential for
combustion. Keep the nozzle fully
inserted until the container is full.
Watch the fill rate — splashing
increases static charge generation.
Don't bend over the container while
filling. Keep the can at arm's length.
To reduce the explosion hazard,
consider investing in a gasoline
container that incorporates a flash
arrestor. For more information on
fuel safety, contact the Ontario Farm
Safety Association, Guelph at 1-800-
361-8855.0
Frost seeding tips
By Jack Kyle
OMAFRA Soil and Crop Advisor
Frost seeding is an easy and
inexpensive way to put run-down
pastures on the road to recovery.
The technique is simple. Broadcast
legume seeds onto the existing sod
while the frost is still in the ground.
The seeds will be worked into the soil
by the freezing and thawing action of
the ground as spring approaches.
Melting snow and spring rains will
ensure that there is plenty of moisture
for good germination.
The three legumes that frost seed
well are birdsfoot treefoil, white
clover and red clover. Trefoil should
be seeded by itself at a rate of six to
10 lbs. per acre. White clover, which
is the best choice for fields that are to
be continuously grazed, should be
seeded at a rate of two to four pounds
per acre, while red clover should be
seeded at six to eight pounds per acre.
Seeding can be done a number of
ways. Hand seeders are dandy for
doing small areas easily covered by
foot. A snowmobile or an all -terrain
vehicle will make the job go quickly.
Snow cover is not a problem. The
seed does not wash off with the
melting snow. In fact, snow cover can
make the job easier as it is easy to
keep track of where you have already
seeded. To give the new plants the
best chance of surviving, it pays to
fertilizer the pasture by mid-May
with phosphorous and potash. The
amount that is needed should be
determined by a soil test. Graze the
pasture early to remove or reduce the
competition from the existing sod.
This will open up the sod and let light
reach the young seedlings. Take the
livestock out as soon as the pasture is
grazed down to prevent the animals
from grazing the new plants. The
livestock can return on the field once
the legumes have become well
established (6 to 8 inches in height).0
Cereal seed
treatment
By Jack Kyle
Soil & Crop Advisor, OMAFRA
Seedling diseases can be a
problem in establishing a vigorous
cereal crop stand. To prevent or
reduce the problem of seedling
diseases, you should treat your seed
grain with one of the available seed
treatments.
If you buy registered or certified
seed grain, it should already be
treated with a fungicide. If you are
using your own grain for seed, then
have your local seed cleaner apply
the seed treatment at time of
processing. If you are cleaning the
grain at home, then you can use a
drill box seed treatment. Drill box
treatments are applied to the seed in
the drill box. It is very important to
have even and thorough mixing of the
treatment material into the seed.
If you are planting a cereal crop
into a field that was grass sod in the
previous two years, it would be
advisable to also treat the seed with
an insecticide to control wireworms.
These little insects feed on the young
roots of the emerging cereal plant and
can greatly reduce the stand.
Whatever your source of seed
grain, it is important to make sure
that it is properly treated with a
fungicide and an insecticide to help
insure good seedling vigour. Table 3
in Publication #296, 1997-98 Field
Crop Recommendations, lists the
various treatments and the control
they give for the different cereals.0