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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Since jlmtractor asked a basic question...

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Mike CA

04-19-2007 13:21:40




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I don't want him to feel like the only guy who doesn't understand the basics of farming. So, he asked about plouging, and the reasons for it. Good simple answers were given, which is what I need to hear. So let me ask these:

What is the different outcome from disking and ploughing? They both turn the soil, yes?

Then you've got some contraption that digs dirt into a pointed pile in which you plant, right? What's that called? (I'm watching corn getting planted right now and they are doing that, so it may not be necessary for every type of crop.)

What is the purpose of cultivating? Digging dirt when plants are growing? I could never figure that out.

I'm not a farmer either, if you couldn't tell. ;)

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Paul from MI

04-19-2007 17:14:07




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to Mike CA, 04-19-2007 13:21:40  
Generally seeds will not germinate unless they are in tight contact with soil. Plowing loosens the soil and turns under the residue from the previous crop leaving the soil surface bare. Discing breaks up the soil into small particles to give good contact with the soil. It also levels the plowed surface to some extent, although other tools sucha s harrows will do a better job of leveling. Then when seeds are planted either packer wheels or antoher implement such as a cultipacker or roller compact the soil around the seed for good germination. Cultivators were used to remove weeds between the rows of row planted crops, such as corn. Corn was somretimes "check" planted so that cultivation could be done in two directions, thus eliminating weeds in the rows. This is the method used prior to the advent of herbicides in the 1950"s. They eliminated the need for cultivation and allowed plant populations and yields to greatly increase. After the herbicides came "no till" planting which eliminated plowing and discing. Why turn over 40" of soil to plant a seed in 2"? This bring us to the current farming practices, which are variations of these. There are so many different variations that many books could be written, but herbicides made it all possible. Just my opinion and faulty memory,
Paul

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Joe(TX)

04-19-2007 17:11:57




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to Mike CA, 04-19-2007 13:21:40  
It's plouging if you are English and plowing in the USA.



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Bus Driver

04-19-2007 16:08:05




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to Mike CA, 04-19-2007 13:21:40  
Sod planting is especially popular for corn and soybeans in my area.The practice of sod planting today is the result of several developments of recent times. One is herbicides which kill the existing vegetation so that the new plants have less competition for soil nutrients. The other is tractors with enough horsepower to pull the planters used today. Kinze is one of the preferred brands of planters. Untilled ground and debris from the previous crop really challenge the tractor-planter combination. Here, one person can plant about 60 acres of corn per day with sod planting. Plowing and discing would require several days for the same acreage plus much more fuel would be used. Plowing helped reduce debris from the previous crop as well as control weeds. Disc harrows helped smooth the rough ground resulting from plowing. A disc plow left REALLY rough ground, a moldboard plow somewhat less so. Some crops still require such soil preparation, especially many vegetable crops.

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John N Mi

04-19-2007 14:56:43




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to Mike CA, 04-19-2007 13:21:40  
In the olden days corn was planted with a lister. This turn the dirt out both ways from the middle where the corn seed was planted. The mounds between the rows could then be turned back toward the corn stalks when cultivating to remove weeds and pile dirt against the corn stalks. Lister was a term used for horse drawn corn planters. With tractors I think they just called it a corn planter. John

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georgeky

04-19-2007 13:58:32




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to Mike CA, 04-19-2007 13:21:40  
Mike Plowing is the first step, this turns in organic matter left by crop residue and loosens the soil so the disk will work properly. Then the disk works the ground fine enough to plant crops in, they don't do well in clods. I suppose the contraption you refer to is a middle buster, not everyone uses those. It puts the crop on a ridge for drainage or moisture purposes I guess, we don't use them in Ky. The purpose of cultivating is for weed control and loosening ground so it can absorb more moiture. If ground is packed tight heavy rains tend to run off insead of soaking in. Tobacco in particular will not start growing good until it is cultivated and the next day you can tell a big difference in it. I am not good at explaining some things, I hope this clears it up a little

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Mike CA

04-19-2007 14:10:13




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 Re: Since jlmtractor asked a basic question... in reply to georgeky, 04-19-2007 13:58:32  
It does quite a bit. Thanks!



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