Hygroscopic materials

gatewood

Member
Arable Farmer
I've very recently become interested in the use of hygroscopic materials (things that absorb and retain a lot of water), for the purpose of making the ground retain more water, so as to reduce the costs of irrigation.

So far, the only ones I've come up with are:

1. Cotton and paper in general. They have excellent hygroscopy, but will degrade rather quickly.
2. Wood ash. Also known as a good dissecant, it'll remain in the ground for longer, but, if not washed (to remove the potassium carbonate), it'll raise the grounds pH.
3. Charcoal. The worst of them all, but it'll stay there practically forever (and it has a lot more benefits).

You guys have experience in this, or know something more about the matter?
 

Agrivator

Member
Just out of interest. A heavy crop takes a lot out of the soil.

But it also leaves a thick stubble, which is incorporated back into the soil. And a heavy crop must be associated with an extensive root system, which remains in the soil.

To what extent does the stubble and roots offset the organic matter removed by the crop (including straw or haulm)?
 

farmerm

Member
Location
Shropshire
There are various polymers than can absorb and release large quantities of water.... Another important factor to consider when looking at soils and irrigation is the hydrophobic effect that can occur in some soils types when they dry out... I frequently come across potato ridges that have had an inch of irrigation pre/peri emergence, fields that appear saturated on the surface with water lying in the furrows. You scrape the top off the ridge and find the tubers sitting in bone dry dust and cobble under a wet soil blanket that is barely a few cm deep... Most of the water having either run off or drained though the profile and what little water the soil has absorbed is quickly evaporated from the surface.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
I've very recently become interested in the use of hygroscopic materials (things that absorb and retain a lot of water), for the purpose of making the ground retain more water, so as to reduce the costs of irrigation.

So far, the only ones I've come up with are:

1. Cotton and paper in general. They have excellent hygroscopy, but will degrade rather quickly.
2. Wood ash. Also known as a good dissecant, it'll remain in the ground for longer, but, if not washed (to remove the potassium carbonate), it'll raise the grounds pH.
3. Charcoal. The worst of them all, but it'll stay there practically forever (and it has a lot more benefits).

You guys have experience in this, or know something more about the matter?

If you have high Magnesium levels and low calcium levels, consider using gypsum. Manage potassium levels - this facilitates water movement in cells.

I have to say that @Charles Quick 's post about organic matter is the best by far (y)
 

phil

Member
Location
Wexford
Soils need roots, continuous spring barley for 12 years, cover crop each year. in 2009 OM was 6%, in 2019 OM was 9%

Photo is of soil near a pole where there was never a cover crop compared to the field.

Everybody tells me what i cant do

Soil.jpg
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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