Cultivation
Conventional Tillage Systems Reasons for tillage?
Conventional Tillage Systems Reasons for tillage Manage Residue. Aerate Soil. Aids organic matter decomposition to release nitrogen and other nutrients. Control Weeds. Prior to planting. During fallow seasons. Incorporate fertilizers, herbicides, and fumigants. Prepare a seedbed.
Conventional Tillage Systems Primary tillage. Topsoil is plowed to a depth of 6 to 14 inches (15-36 cm). Aim is to bury crop residue and control weeds. Timing is dependent on soil type. Heavier clay soils are best plowed in fall, where inverted soils are exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. Depth dependent on soil type, but also can be related to fuel costs. Implements include moldboard plows, disk plows and chisel plows.
Early Moldboard Plow
Moldboard Plow
Disc Plow
Chisel Plow
Chisel Plow
Moldboard Plowing Chisel Plowing
Chisel Plow
Noble Plow
Conventional Tillage Systems Secondary tillage Follows primary tillage to produce a finer tilth for seeding. Aim is to maximize seed-soil contact at planting. Often associated with application and incorporation of granular fertilizers and pre-plant herbicides. If possible, multiple tillage operations are completed at right angles. Equipment used includes discs, cultivators and harrows.
Disc Cultivators
Shank Cultivators
Anhydrous ammonia application
Harrow Cultivators
Fertilizer applicators
Rod Weeder
Although tillage causes compaction, it is the most convenient methods used to manage surface compaction when it occurs. Easier to apply fertilizer and perform other agronomic operations (i.e. seeding). Good tilth result in good seed-soil contact. Tilled soil (black) heats more quickly in fall and spring for seedling development. Lack of residue on soil surface reduces overwintering of pests and diseases (green bridge).
Increased erosion, due to lack of surface residue. Soil compaction, caused by loss of soil structure. Costs more than other systems, more labor, more fuel. Soil organic matter decreases over time. Moisture loss to tillage can cause drought stress later in season.
0.7 1.1 1.6 g/cm 3 g/cm 3 g/cm 3 Soil Compaction
Ponding on the soil surface Also associated with drainage problems. Presence of dark streaks on soil surface Results from prolonged water logging, usually in tire tracks. Increased power needed to cultivate. Increased run off. Surface soil crust.
Incomplete crop stands Compaction usually hinders seed germination. Uneven crop stands Plant in compacted areas will be stunted due to poor root development. Changes in plant color. Compaction water logging causes moisture stress in plants. Restricted root development Reduced yields.
100 90 80 70 60 % 50 40 30 20 10 0
Water Erosion Wind Erosion
Tillage Effect: Water Erosion
Solution: no-till
Argentina
} 6 cm DNGassen
Water Quality DNGassen
Removes Top Soil Exposes clay & rock
October 4, 2009
Crop Damage
Soil Erosion by Water (tons/acre/year)
Soil Erosion by Wind (tons/acre/year)
Direct Seeding
Based on use of non-selective herbicides to break green bridge disease cycles and aid in weed control. One-pass and two-pass systems for fertilizer application.
No till or direct seeding - Soil disturbance is minimized. Weed control is accomplished through crop rotation and herbicides. Mulch tillage - Leaves residue on surface to serve as a mulch to preserve moisture and reduce erosion. Common in dry regions like the PNW. Minimum tillage - Low disturbance, can involve shank type fertilizer application and harrowing for straw management. Strip tillage - Zones of cultivation intermixed with fallow or cropped land.
Conservation Tillage Systems Advantages Reduces grower time inputs. Reduces fuel costs and emissions. Limits soil erosion. Improves soil structure and increases organic matter. Avoids soil compaction. Improves water infiltration and water holding capacity. Increases soil fauna, esp. earthworms.
Conservation tillage Disadvantages Highly dependent on chemical control of weeds. Can involve high investment costs in seeders. High risk of crop loss due to pests and diseases. Crop residue can impact seedling establishment. Reduced yields during transition years.
1/3 ton soil Conventional 18 x pile Minimal till 5 x pile No tillage 1 x pile
What crop to grow? Species? End use quality? What cultivar to grow? Seed source? Public varieties. PVP Protected varieties. Intelectual property varieties (i.e. Roundup Ready )
Blackleg Life Cycle
Blackleg Idaho and Washington identified as blackleg free states. Blackleg was confirmed near Bonners Ferry in 2011. Trasmitted by planting infected seeds. Can persist in soils for many years after initial infection. Plant only certified seed from blackleg free regions.
Grown under strict quality standards Inspected and tagged by state certification authorities. Genetically pure. Free from weeds. Free from seed borne diseases. Better for agriculture, better end product.
Variety and Kind Cultivar/release name, species, and common name; Lot number a series of letters or numbers assigned by the grower for tracking purposes; Origin where the seed was grown; Net weight how much material is in the container; Percent pure seed (purity) how much of the material is actually the desired seed; Percent inert matter how much of the material in the bag is plant debris or other materials that are not seed; Percent other crop seeds other non-weed seeds;
Percent weed seeds seeds considered weed species; Name of restricted noxious seed (with number per pound of seed). Noxious weed species vary by state. There are 2 types of noxious weeds retricted and prohibited. Restricted weeds are listed as seeds per pound of material in the bag. There should be no prohibited weeds; Percent germination (germ) how much of the seed will germinate readily; Hard seed seed which does not germinate readily because of a hard seed coat;
Dormant seed seed which does not germinate readily because it requires a pre-treatment or weathering in the soil. (Some suppliers may combine hard and dormant seed on the label.); Germination test date date should be within 12 months of the planned date for using the seed; Name and address of company responsible for analysis (seller or grower).
Dormant seed seed which does not germinate readily because it requires a pre-treatment or weathering in the soil. (Some suppliers may combine hard and dormant seed on the label.); Germination test date date should be within 12 months of the planned date for using the seed; Name and address of company responsible for analysis (seller or grower).
Jack s Reliable Seed Co. 123 N. Somewhere Street, Moscow, ID 83843 Tel.L (208) 301 1111 IdaGold Yellow Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) NET WEIGHT : 50 lbs PURE SEED : 97.40% LOT # : IDMOS-34-A OTHER CROP : 0.34% DATE TESTED : January 2012 INERT MATTER : 1.60% ORIGIN : Idaho WEED SEED : 0.66% GERMINATION : 94.00% NOXIOUS : 4/lb Wild mustard HARD SEED : 0.00% : 2/lb Pig weed
Seed Drills
Air Seed Drills
Direct seed drills
Direct Seeding Argentina
Seed Drills
Double Disc Drills
Air Seed Drills
Direct seed drills
Seed Treatments Germination enhancement Fungicides Insecticides
Non-Treated Seed Treated Seed Rhyzoctonia Damage
Non-treated seed Treated seed
Pelletization Makes seed handling, and seed placement easier Pesticides can be incorporated into pellet
Monosem Vacuum Drill
Stanhay Belt Drill
Transplanting
Seed Priming
Seed Priming
Budding and grafting onto various root stocks: Rosaceous top fruits, citrus, avocado, grape. Leafy cuttings: Pineapple, strawberry. Leafless cuttings: Sugar cane. Tubers, bulb, etc.: Potato, various bulb flowers, sweet potato.
Tubers
Weed Management