Breaking cultivation layer

[Retraceh]

I have experienced a cultivation layer when from moving from a Mzuri to a Dale this year. When digging down I have found what looks like a pan which the water has not been able to get through, therefore the top few inches have been sitting wet. Has anybody else experienced this and what have they done to remedy it?
I was thinking of inter row companion crops with all crops next year including cereals to help get roots into the soil profile and help break this layer up as quick as possible.

 

[stroller]

Yes, got some big patches where nothing is growing, top 3" or so is sloppy mud, underneath is quite dry. My problem is a 3m amazone primera drill with 560x 22.5 wheels at the rear, so over 1/3 of the area is pounded down after the coulters. If the soils dry its OK but slightly damp it creates a compacted layer. Autumn 19 made a right mess, some places nothing g grew in the wheel marks, I've either got to only dd in the dry or get a different drill, I also do a muck for straw swap which cause a bit of compaction.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Do nothing

Roots can do it

 

[Warnesworth]

Have you got some recent soil analysis, could be a chemical imbalance. And as @SilliamWhale says roots, lots of roots.
The primera is a good drill, stick with it.

 

[Lincsman]

Do nothing

Roots can do it

Roots of what when nothing has grown?, or do you mean abandon what there is of a crop?

There is a couple of fields like it near me that have never had water stood on them before are now 25% under water, the rest is shiny mud, but it is the first year of DD

 

[SilliamWhale]

If the plants are alive leave it. If they are dead then redrill in spring

 

[Lincsman]

If the plants are alive leave it. If they are dead then redrill in spring

80% has rotted away, inc any weeds!, not sure it will drill in spring unless it gets last years weather, there is a lot of water to evaporate.

 

[snarling bee]

Is it that wrong to low disturbance subsoil the affected areas?
Saying roots will do it is a medium term solution surely, not a 'now' solution. The OP has got to pay the bills.

 

[Lincsman]

Have you got some recent soil analysis, could be a chemical imbalance. And as @SilliamWhale says roots, lots of roots.
The primera is a good drill, stick with it.

Am I right in thinking roots in grazed Perm pasture are not the roots required, as its seems to flood too easily.

 

[DanM]

Am I right in thinking roots in grazed Perm pasture are not the roots required, as its seems to flood too easily.

Depends how your managing your permanent pasture? Set-stocked, closely cropped grass won’t have very deep roots. Combine that with heavy silage machinery and you won’t be much better off than over worked tilled soil!

 

[Lincsman]

Depends how your managing your permanent pasture? Set-stocked, closely cropped grass won’t have very deep roots. Combine that with heavy silage machinery and you won’t be much better off than over worked tilled soil!

No tractor has been in the field for 40 years since Basic slag was stopped... maybe a little on patches of thistles topping and its extensive grazed... no Fert.

 

[som farmer]

if you have a pan, it needs sorting, plenty of equipment out there to cure it, really it's why do you have the pan, and try to avoid getting it again.

 

[Badshot]

Is it that wrong to low disturbance subsoil the affected areas?
Saying roots will do it is a medium term solution surely, not a 'now' solution. The OP has got to pay the bills.

Trouble is you just set yourself up.the have to do more remedial work after harvest as the combine and trailers will make more compaction.
It really is a case of harvest.
Plant the most vigorous growing thing you can find.
Then carry on again...

 

[snarling bee]

Doesn't the OP have a pan rather than general compaction?

 

[Warnesworth]

Am I right in thinking roots in grazed Perm pasture are not the roots required, as its seems to flood too easily.

Depends how you manage the grassland. Most grass is managed too short so the roots never get too deep and hence poor drainage.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Chicory is good for adding a useful tap root service, it does need to be allowed to 'go up a bit 'though,
but as above no use being too 'tidy' let the grass go , leave it alone dont keep burning diesel on a topper.

 

[Lincsman]

Depends how you manage the grassland. Most grass is managed too short so the roots never get too deep and hence poor drainage.

Its just lightly grazed really, no fert, some parts have never seen the plough as the gullys from old water-ways , pre-ditches are still there, it is clay though but the general view is it make no difference.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Its just lightly grazed really, no fert, some parts have never seen the plough as the gullys from old water-ways , pre-ditches are still there, it is clay though but the general view is it make no difference.

Yeah, clay is waterproof, that's the problem.,unless youre lining a pond .

 

[som farmer]

Depends how you manage the grassland. Most grass is managed too short so the roots never get too deep and hence poor drainage.

we cannot winter cattle on grass here, son wanted to try, he is now a believer. The worst is surface pans, working ground for reseed, we stop well before a nice seed bed, by the time it's drilled, it's perfect, always roll in with ring rollers.
Son learn't, solid pan at 3/4 inches, in his 'trial' field. We can get away with sheep though, just weight per hoof. Then we can get a 'proper' plough pan, 8/10 ins deep. You have to work with your soil, not what you think it needs, a spade is a very good tool here. The other side, we have a really good farm, good deep soils, very prone to dry out, and in a bit of a rain shadow, this year, weeds and forage rape took 8 weeks to emerge, in big patches ! But if given a good season, it will produce huge crops, after 3 very dry summers, beginning to doubt that !

 

[EddieB]

I am fairly new to DD and have found areas of compaction showing up, some areas could certainly be described as a pan. My thoughts are to run a low disturbance subsoiler through as needed plus utilising more cover crops / spring cropping and to widen the rotation. I will see how it goes but last year certainly highlighted the problem.