Triple C
Well-Known Member
After finishing a fairly large logging operation on our place this past spring I knew I would have some soil compaction in the north end of our largest field and throughout our hour glass plot. Both areas were used as logging decks with heavy equipment making many, many round trips skidding logs and loading as well. This past weekend I subsoiled both fields after spraying gly 2 weeks ago preparing for fall plots. I was overwhelmed with the compaction in certain areas of our hour glass plot where the skidder made multiple trips over the same area. Weird thing is that this plot is only about an acre in size...maybe a tad more. The upper section has much better soil that is quite loamy and the lower section is more red clay. The area near the bottom that is mostly clay was trampled by the skidder.
I expected compaction but with the decent amount of rain we've had this summer I expected to find the soil moist. Wow! Was I wrong. Even in the bean field in areas where there was very little traffic from logging equipment, I was surprised at how dry the soil was.
The first pic below is a view from the tractor in the bean field looking south. You can see how easily the subsoiler did it's job with very little upheaval of compacted soil. Went through this area very easily.
When I started in the hour glass plot where I knew the compaction would be evident, it was like going through concrete. In addition, it was simply bone dry for the most part. Had to constantly lift and lower the subsoiler to avoid spinning all four wheels on a fairly heavy tractor - Kubota M4800. Here's what the soil looked like.
Check out the size of the clumps that were lifted by the subsoiler. Putting heavy equipment on food plots is not a good idea if it can be avoided.
Below is a pic of our rainfall to date this year as compared to the last 10 yr avg. As you can see, we've been blessed with ample rain and basically right on target at this date for the 10 yr avg. But...we've had the most prolonged head wave that I can ever recall in all my years. Day after day after day of 90 plus temps and more expected this week. Based on how dry conditions are, we won't plant until late this month and will be patient to wait until we have good moisture in the forecast. Luckily, temps show a nice moderation over the next 15 days with highs in the mid to low 80s and lows dropping down into the mid to low 60s. I've got some work to do to prepare the plot shown in the last 2 pics above prior to planting. Don't think throw and mow would work with this soil. I will wait 2 weeks and disc this plot to break up these clumps and hope some good moisture will help.
I expected compaction but with the decent amount of rain we've had this summer I expected to find the soil moist. Wow! Was I wrong. Even in the bean field in areas where there was very little traffic from logging equipment, I was surprised at how dry the soil was.
The first pic below is a view from the tractor in the bean field looking south. You can see how easily the subsoiler did it's job with very little upheaval of compacted soil. Went through this area very easily.
When I started in the hour glass plot where I knew the compaction would be evident, it was like going through concrete. In addition, it was simply bone dry for the most part. Had to constantly lift and lower the subsoiler to avoid spinning all four wheels on a fairly heavy tractor - Kubota M4800. Here's what the soil looked like.
Check out the size of the clumps that were lifted by the subsoiler. Putting heavy equipment on food plots is not a good idea if it can be avoided.
Below is a pic of our rainfall to date this year as compared to the last 10 yr avg. As you can see, we've been blessed with ample rain and basically right on target at this date for the 10 yr avg. But...we've had the most prolonged head wave that I can ever recall in all my years. Day after day after day of 90 plus temps and more expected this week. Based on how dry conditions are, we won't plant until late this month and will be patient to wait until we have good moisture in the forecast. Luckily, temps show a nice moderation over the next 15 days with highs in the mid to low 80s and lows dropping down into the mid to low 60s. I've got some work to do to prepare the plot shown in the last 2 pics above prior to planting. Don't think throw and mow would work with this soil. I will wait 2 weeks and disc this plot to break up these clumps and hope some good moisture will help.
