Comparing Cracks (in the soil)

Pan mixer · Jul 21, 2022

Since it has been dryish of late I think we need a few photos of cracked fields.

My entry.

Not suitable to play golf at present - there is a golf course right next to this field.

PSQ · Jul 21, 2022

On the bright side, you won't need to subsoil.

Pan mixer · Jul 21, 2022

PSQ said:
On the bright side, you won't need to subsoil.

or plough or anything at present.

teslacoils · Jul 21, 2022

All the bare bits down tramlines etc are cracked down to the drain backfill. Wont be subsoiling - will just shred the tyres and pull up boulders.

CPF · Jul 22, 2022

teslacoils said:
All the bare bits down tramlines etc are cracked down to the drain backfill. Wont be subsoiling - will just shred the tyres and pull up boulders.

That’s saved you, a job to do with cost of fuel then

Princess Pooper · Jul 22, 2022

Self structuring clays!

Pan mixer · Jul 22, 2022

Ideal for a straw rake - rake all the blackgrass and wild oat seeds down the cracks - see them again in a year or two.

organicguy · Jul 22, 2022

I have a theory, shoot me if you will , but please justify your reason.
If your soil is in good condition you will get lots of small cracks but none the size of tramline cracks. If depleted of OM etc you will get single big cracks.
Right or wrong?

Lincsman · Jul 22, 2022

organicguy said:
I have a theory, shoot me if you will , but please justify your reason.
If your soil is in good condition you will get lots of small cracks but none the size of tramline cracks. If depleted of OM etc you will get single big cracks.
Right or wrong?

Correct, those cracks above will seal up and water will stand come january if untouched, they do here anyway, I have heard a JD750 will stop that though.

benny6910 · Jul 22, 2022

This was a month ago in a tramline, not had much rain since I took the picture

teslacoils · Jul 22, 2022

organicguy said:
I have a theory, shoot me if you will , but please justify your reason.
If your soil is in good condition you will get lots of small cracks but none the size of tramline cracks. If depleted of OM etc you will get single big cracks.
Right or wrong?

In an open crop, such as spring linseed, we might get cracks as shown every square foot. Whereas the same field with a grass ley wont have any cracks at all.

Vader · Jul 22, 2022

Lincsman said:
Correct, those cracks above will seal up and water will stand come january if untouched, they do here anyway, I have heard a JD750 will stop that though.

Jd750 would not get into our heavy land....
Its had lots of crops chopped in, muck spread. Heavy areas still same.

Lincsman · Jul 22, 2022

Vader said:
Jd750 would not get into our heavy land....
Its had lots of crops chopped in, muck spread. Heavy areas still same.

A demo one was here last spring and though not as hard as it is now cut in 3" deep no problem for beans, incredibly heavy machines, the beans are not so good now though.

Vader · Jul 22, 2022

Lincsman said:
A demo one was here last spring and though not as hard as it is now cut in 3" deep no problem for beans, incredibly heavy machines, the beans are not so good now though.

It would get in ours in spring as would have winter weather on it to soften top.
Drilling winter crops different ball game.

benny6910 · Jul 22, 2022

Had a dig down in my winter barley stubble 13inch and still small cracks deeper down. I thought it might of been deeper.

Pan mixer · Jul 22, 2022

My lawn gets cracks, I bought a half tonne bag of pea shingle to put down them to help with winter drainage, got rid of the entire half tonne in less than3 square metres.

Hi Mag clays crack with big cracks and big blocks, high OM or not.

Renaultman · Jul 22, 2022

organicguy said:
I have a theory, shoot me if you will , but please justify your reason.
If your soil is in good condition you will get lots of small cracks but none the size of tramline cracks. If depleted of OM etc you will get single big cracks.
Right or wrong?

I have been thinking the same, not DD but min till heavyish clay but using gypsum and mucked every year, tramline cracks are tiny this year am hoping it's a plus and not the land tightening up?

Lincsman · Jul 23, 2022

Renaultman said:
I have been thinking the same, not DD but min till heavyish clay but using gypsum and mucked every year, tramline cracks are tiny this year am hoping it's a plus and not the land tightening up?

No its getting better, think if it was 90% peat... no cracks there.

Pan mixer · Jul 23, 2022

Bale carting today, daren't get out of the loader - ankle twisting country.

Barleymow · Jul 24, 2022

Pan mixer said:
Bale carting today, daren't get out of the loader - ankle twisting country.

View attachment 1051568

Heavy land here like that no heavy tractors 100 hp on duals and tm crawler do the land work

Comparing Cracks (in the soil)

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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