Why are crops usually better along the line of removed hedgerows decades later ?

[BrianV]

like this. View attachment 986642

Yep just like that

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Not here ,would be poorer over the hedge banks , the soil would be very poor from not being farmered

I

 

[Vader]

We have noticed in recently reseeded grass fields (last year) that where tractors have since seeding crossed the fields a lot in the same area then that area is greener in colour, I wonder if the soil compaction helps retain moisture during drier times as maybe the case where hedgerows once were?

About 20 years ago we had to haul fodder beet across some stubble as road works normal exit.
Wet year and made ruts.
Even now the wheeling where we went show in crops.
Wierd thing in cereals, crop is darker green where the soil damage occurred all those years ago.
Ctops be thicker there as well as always goes down in bad weather, even if rest of field does not.

 

[Goweresque]

Has the EA actually written this ?

In so many words they have - they don't want us putting manure on land when the crop doesn't need feeding, but will allow it in the spring when the crop does need feeding. So logically they are saying nutrients applied in the autumn will be gone by spring. If they will still be there, what's the problem with putting them on in the autumn?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

My grass needs feeding now or what will all the sheep eat over the winter

 

[wanton dwarf]

In so many words they have - they don't want us putting manure on land when the crop doesn't need feeding, but will allow it in the spring when the crop does need feeding. So logically they are saying nutrients applied in the autumn will be gone by spring. If they will still be there, what's the problem with putting them on in the autumn?

Unless the land gets flooded the PK should be there.

Don't know enough about Nitrogen to say but in theory the crop should take up most of the N during the Autumn and Winter when crop temperatures are above 5 degrees. Not a lot of N in Bio solids or Compost.

 

[Flatlander]

like this. View attachment 986642

This could either be manganese shortage in the crop or if it’s a tramline from previous crop there could be unused N being used by this crop.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Why would manganese be available up the tramlineS but not the rest of the field ?

 

[glasshouse]

Why would manganese be available up the tramlineS but not the rest of the field ?

Soil is more compact, so better root development.
I noticed this on sandy land forty years ago and bought a set of dual wheels to ensure a larger area was consolidated by wheels while harrowing and drilling etc
Our yields rose by 50%, and used less diesel as less wheelslip

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Finished broadcasting turnips on a field last year in a rain deluge , the best ones where up the quad bike wheeling where it had gone like wet concrete.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

My grass needs feeding now or what will all the sheep eat over the winter

according to Agrinet grass in Wales is still growing at 47kg DM/Ha/day, mind you they don't say at how many feet up that is!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

according to Agrinet grass in Wales is still growing at 47kg DM/Ha/day, mind you they don't say at how many feet up that is!

Ive cut mine ,do need to raplace whats been taken off or winter growth will be poor and slow next spring

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Soil is more compact, so better root development.
I noticed this on sandy land forty years ago and bought a set of dual wheels to ensure a larger area was consolidated by wheels while harrowing and drilling etc
Our yields rose by 50%, and used less diesel as less wheelslip

Spot on

maybe a wee bit of N mineralisation from the extra disturbance too

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Maybe the question should be: Why are the crops not as good on the areas of ground that have been farmed for the longest time?

Because they were good crops! And made shiny turds, long flushed away

 

[glasshouse]

Soil is more compact, so better root development.
I noticed this on sandy land forty years ago and bought a set of dual wheels to ensure a larger area was consolidated by wheels while harrowing and drilling etc
Our yields rose by 50%, and used less diesel as less wheelslip

I should say too that i bought them with my own money and fitted them in the dead of night so the old man couldnt stop me.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

I should say too that i bought them with my own money and fitted them in the dead of night so the old man couldnt stop me.

Sounds like the kind of thing I used to do

 

[jpd]

i ploughed what was always our hay field a few years ago
cut ditches and burned them
i had a poor crop of barley
but it grew exceedingly well where the fire was
was it p or k it was short of?
i rented it out twice since for fodder beet
as well as getting pucks of slurry
i ploughed under the beet leaves
the crops since have lush and good
but it is an unusually light field
on a very sandy farm
on a side note
last year i left a field growing its cover crop
from the previous autumn
i ploughed it in December as are the rules here
and grew what i consider 1 of the two best crops of s barley i have ever grown
it could be just the good year
but after fallow
it was a fantastic looking crop through the season