How to repair soils

[Castlemaine]

How to fix areas like this , any ideas?
Harrow in some mustard and then subsoil in September ?

 

[Clive]

do nothing while so wet as in the picture

when dry then subsoil, level and plant a multi species cover crop to grow though summer months - mustard alone would be a waste of the opportunity if you plan not to cash crop this year

make regular molasses applications to the cover crop

crop next year with wheat - don't cultivate it !

 

[Brisel]

Let it dry out and have a dig with the spade to see what condition it's in. You might be able to put a spring crop in - think of it as a cover crop you're topping with the combine and don't spend much on it as yield potential is limited. Keep the soil growing something and you'll keep it alive.

Read this and bear it in mind when you get digging. https://ahdb.org.uk/thinksoils

 

[teslacoils]

Leave it be. When dry get something growing on it - a cover crop needs "growing" so take the chance to get some fert on it. Chances are it's not going through be madly happy next year and my 2p is that the cover crop is a way to get some fert in the land for next year's wheat to use, and that next year's crop needs to be the fixer. My saddest slop I aim to use rye or winter oats as the next crop as wheat just doesn't get the roots down to exploit a sadder soil.

 

[Castlemaine]

what would the best cover crop be , tillage radish or stubble turnips to break pan , always though thistles and nettles would make a great soil conditioning crop , they grow anywhere and nothing eats them

 

[DanniAgro]

what would the best cover crop be , tillage radish or stubble turnips to break pan , always though thistles and nettles would make a great soil conditioning crop , they grow anywhere and nothing eats them

The best soil conditioning crop I've ever grown was a large clump of couch in the middle of a field - when it was ploughed up in the autumn it may have been full of roots, but the soil inbetween was some of the finest and well structured in the fioeld. Quite put me to shame!

 

[teslacoils]

Oats.

 

[4course]

leave it well alone,it will do it itself quicker though it may take more time than you think and far cheaper than messing about in the long run

 

[SilliamWhale]

And next time - do not drive on them when wet!

 

[Brisel]

Oats.

Linseed. Well, it certainly improves the top 3” anyway.

 

[jack6480]

Oats

 

[Warnesworth]

DO NOT consider deep movement until it's dry at depth. i.e. late summer/early autumn, if we have a reasonable dry time through the summer. By then if it's dry enough the deep movement will not be required anyhow. The worst thing you could do to this now is try to put any steel through it except a drill when conditions allow.

Get something established and growing well, with a mix of rooting types if its a cover crop. I wouldn't use bulbous brassicas such as stubble turnips or radish, they are expensive and never achieve what you think they will achieve, better to stick to crops you might have in store and use a decent seed rate. Contrary to above mustard on its own is good but will be short lived, mustard in combination with a few other (2-3 species) equally as good. Make sure you feed the crop well.

 

[Brisel]

What’s your view on Dalkion radish, other than “expensive?”

 

[Warnesworth]

If you are asking me @Brisel all the bulbous radish over claim and under deliver. As far as I can see they don’t do a great deal for soil structure unlike a nice fibrous root. The bulb tends to rot from the inside out creating a lovely haven for slugs, and they don’t contain much lignin so don’t remain for long enough. Once they rot they leave a large void which tends to fill with loose soil which then compacts easily as it has little natural structure. And, they’re expensive?.
I could go on, is that enough?

 

[Flat 10]

You’re in bucks, plenty of time to get maize in!

 

[Brisel]

If you are asking me @Brisel all the bulbous radish over claim and under deliver. As far as I can see they don’t do a great deal for soil structure unlike a nice fibrous root. The bulb tends to rot from the inside out creating a lovely haven for slugs, and they don’t contain much lignin so don’t remain for long enough. Once they rot they leave a large void which tends to fill with loose soil which then compacts easily as it has little natural structure. And, they’re expensive?.
I could go on, is that enough?

That’s pretty clear, yes

 

[davidroberts30]

Plenty of well rotted muck

 

[Flat 10]

Plenty of well rotted muck

Sumo, PH drill maize? In all seriousness could be worse plans as long as dry enough

 

[davidroberts30]

Sumo, PH drill maize? In all seriousness could be worse plans as long as dry enough

I would think get it on if it will travel
Well rotted muck contains the biology to help repair soils

 

[Warnesworth]

Sumo, PH drill maize? In all seriousness could be worse plans as long as dry enough

Arrrgghhhh! The soil structure looks poor already. Destabilising it further with excessive cultivation isn’t going to help. Sorry.