• Welcome to The Farming Forum!

    As part of this update, we have made a change to the login and registration process. If you are experiences any problems, please email [email protected] with the details so we can resolve any issues.

Today at work

Hesstondriver

Hesstondriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Huntingdon
Nearly said:
Threw £1000 of little white pellets about the place.
1591382417422.png

Mother nature threw some of it back at me.
1591382318127.png

Then had a test drive of 'Barbie' the sprayer.
1591382267332.png
Click to expand...
Pennies from heaven is the phrase you may be looking for!!
 
Farmer Roy

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
Flat 10 said:
i get all the other attributes but how does it save the water please? Surely the weeds just transpire it out?
Click to expand...
Ukjay said:
The way I understand this, covered ground evaporates less water than say plain open to the elements soil - as you will have cover under and around the vegitation which reduces the direct effect of the sun and wind. The weeds are effectively not utilising all the stored moisture, but giving added protection.

Orr, I am completely off tangent :)
Click to expand...

that’s about it

bare soil loses a massive amount of water due to evaporation, especially when you add heat & wind to the equation.
Bare soil doesn’t tend to infiltrate rain as well either, especially with heavy rain / big droplets like we often get, which can effectively pound the soil surface and form a cap or crust, so water tends to sit on the surface rather than soak in.
Vegetation / ground cover also protects the soil from high temps. I have photos somewhere, but I have measured soil temps on bare soil & under plants & during our summer there is a startling difference. On a day when the ambient air temp was 36 C, shaded soil under groundcover was a few degree less than 36 C, but bare soil was over 50 C on the surface ( as high as my soil thermometer goes ). Considering soil biology pretty much shuts down above 40 C, that is significant.
We were getting the odd random fall of say 20mm, but with high temps & bare soils, it was pointless, wouldn’t even soak in, would just evaporate. Whereas, the soil under the “weeds” stayed moist . . .
Our whole farming systems revolve around stored soil moisture to grow our crops - so I agree the idea of letting “weeds” grow IS counter intuitive. It IS a big paradigm shift.
But, even more important to us is preserving ground cover ( it was too dry to plant anything, so was happy for anything to grow that would provide some cover ) & ensuring we capture & utilise every mm of rain. Last summer, I could have had 100mm, but it would have all evaporated & been completely ineffective. As it is, the odd little showers we got were enough to get some pioneer species growing, which then provided better cover so we could fully utilise the falls we received in March.
It is that March rainfall that I am planting my crops on now.
 
Last edited:
Flat 10

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Farmer Roy said:
that’s about it

bare soil loses a massive amount of water due to evaporation, especially when you add heat & wind to the equation.
Bare soil doesn’t end to infiltrate rain as well either, especially with heavy rain / big droplets like we often get, which can effectively pound the soil surface and form a cap or crust, so water tends to sit in the surface rather than soak in.
Vegetation / ground cover also protects the soil from high temps. I have photos somewhere, but I have measured soil temps on bare soil & under plants & during our summer there is a startling difference. On a day when the ambient air temp was 36 C, shaded soil under groundcover was 36 C, but bare soil was over 50 C on the surface ( as high as my soil thermometer goes ). Considering soil biology pretty much shuts down above 40 C, that is significant.
We were getting the odd random fall of say 20mm, but with high temps & bare soils, it was pointless, wouldn’t even soak in, would just evaporate. Whereas, the soil under the “weeds” stayed moist . . .
Our whole farming systems revolve around stored soil moisture to grow our crops - so I agree the idea of letting “weeds” grow IS counter intuitive. It IS a big paradigm shift.
But, even more important to us is preserving ground cover ( it was too dry to plant anything, so was happy for anything to grow that would provide some cover ) & ensuring we capture & utilise every mm of rain. Last summer, I could have had 100mm, but it would have all evaporated & been completely ineffective. As it is, the odd little showers we got were enough to get some pioneer species growing, which then provided better cover so we could fully utilise the falls we received in March.
It is that March rainfall that I am planting my crops on now.
Click to expand...
I completely get the point of the cover keeping the soil cool and trapping sunshine to give you extra carbon to feed your biology. Just amazed that it also saves water. I know that often on my farm uncropped areas have much more water below the surface (even if the soil isn’t very nice on top) than the cropped areas. Anyway at least it works because it’s clearly much better for the soil.
 

How is your SFI 24 application progressing?

  • havn't been invited to apply

    Votes: 33 34.7%

  • have been invited to apply

    Votes: 19 20.0%

  • applied but not yet accepted

    Votes: 30 31.6%

  • agreement up and running

    Votes: 13 13.7%
See comments…

Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

Aug 27
  • 3,100
  • 51
On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
News
Continue…

Share this page

Back
Top