1. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation

2. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Crop productivity is determined by how soil is managed
Good land management is a combination of tillage, cropping systems, and soil treatments.
Tillage is the mechanical handling of soil to provide a favorable environment for plant growth
3. Soil Moisture can affect effectiveness of tillage systems

3. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Terms that relate to Tillage
Hardpans: Hardened layers of soil
1. Can cause water penetration problems
2. Can be broken up by chisels or soil savers
to improve water drainage and penetration
Crusts: Surface layers of soil that are harder and more compact than soil located below them
1. Slow water penetration and drainage
2. Can be broke to allow seeds to emerge

4. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Terms that relate to Tillage
A. Crop Residue: Portion of crop plants remaining
after harvest
1. Leaves, stems, stubble, straw, chaff, and
Roots
2. Adds Organic matter content of soil

5. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Cultivation is the tillage between seedlings emergence and crop harvest
Advantages of Cultivation:
1. Weed Control
2. Temporarily improve water infiltration, soil aeration, conservation of soil moisture, loosen compacted soils, and aid in insect control

6. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Cultivation is the tillage between seedlings emergence and crop harvest
Disadvantages of Cultivation:
Loss of organic matter
Destruction of plant roots

7. Soil Tillage, Land Preparation, and Conservation
Major Objectives of Tillage are to improve soil tilth, provide weed control, and manage crop residue
Management of crop residue can be achieved by chopping/cutting and mixing the crop residues into the soil profile.
B. Tillage for weed control is effective and removes weeds that would compete for water, nutrients, and space

8. Other Objectives of Tillage
C. Tillage to improve soil tilth is important in order
to provide a uniform seedbed for planting depth control
Soil Aeration to improve oxygen supply
Moisture Management
Increase insect control by burying crop residue

9. Other Objectives of Tillage
Erosion Control
Crop residues decrease soil erosion
Roughened soil surface decreases soil erosion

10. Different Tillage Equipment
Tillage is done for several different purposes and with a variety of equipment
The plow may be used in the first step of seedbed preparation. It inverts the soil and covers crop residues.
B. Disks are used to reduce clod size by using shearing and pressure. It smooths and levels the soil and destroys small weeds.

11. Different Tillage Equipment
The harrow function is to further reduce the size of the soil clod. It also can be used to smooth and level the soil.
D. A Chisel plow is a type of plow that uses a long shank to turn ground over and break up hard pans.

12. Seedbed Preparation
Good seedbed preparation is essential for successful field and garden sowing
A seedbed should have a loose, but fine physical texture that gives close contact between the soil and the seed
This will allow soil moisture to be supplied continually to the seed
C. It will allow adequate aeration without drying too rapidly

13. Depth of Planting
Depth of planting is critical in that it will determine the rate of emergence and the density of the stand
If the seed is planted too shallow it may dry too rapidly
If it is planted too deep, emergence of the seed will be delayed or may not emerge at all
3. Depth of planting is determined by the kind and size of the seed, the condition of the seedbed, and the environment at planting time

14. Depth of Planting Continued
A rule of thumb is to plant seeds to a depth of “FOUR TIMES ITS AVERAGE DIAMETER”
5. Remember that the proper environment for seed germination requires, available moisture, proper temperature, a supply of oxygen and (sometimes) light

15. ANY QUESTIONS???