D26r-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, April 28,' 1984
Tl>e
.*. Dairy
Busipess
Newton Bair
Soil Physiology
Last time I tried to review some
high school chemistry and apply it
to the soil we work with every day.
Now, let’s try the same thing with
another science, namely physics.
The physical quality of the soil can
have more impact on soil fertility
and productivity than you can
imagine.
For example, two identical soils
with nearly identical chemical
properties may, and often do, vary
a great deal in crop response. Why
is this, when we place so much
emphasis on adding chemical
fertilizers, and testing soils for
nutrient levels? The answer is that
plants must be able to unlock the
physiology holds the key to the
availability of nutrients to the
plant.
Compaction
No need to debate the issue of
soil compaction, and the ruinous
effect it has on fertility. Terms like
“Plow sole”, or “hard pan”, or
“clay pan” are familiar to
JtetcSr)
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everyone. You might even have a
few other favorite names for a field
that has been abused and ended up
more like a parking lot, in mid
summer. Notice the word ‘abused’,
because regardless of the cir
cumstances leading to severe
compaction, it all boils down to the
fact that it was subjected to some
unusual stress or abuse.
Of course, you can’t help it
sometimes. What can you do when
the manure pit runneth over, and
there is a foot of snow or three
inches of rain? Why, you haul it on
the nearest field, and let the tracks
fall where they may. You already
know how long the ruts last, and
how hard the clods get when the
field is tilled. Some of the effects
may last for years, without being
too obvious. Compaction actually
results in the destruction or ex
clusion of two of the most im
portant components of soil-air and
water. So what? They are both
cheap and plentyful, so why
worry?
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L
We usually only think of the
mineral portion as being the true
soil. But in fact, the productive
topsoil of a good silt loam actually
is only about 45 percent mineral.
This mineral portion is of course
the “backbone” of the soil, and
forms the basis for the rest. But
what is the other 55 percent of your
soil made of? Simple - water 25
percent, air 25 percent, and
organic matter about 3 to 5 per
cent. If you can maintain roughly
those porportions through the
growing season, you’ll have a
bumper crop of nearly anything
you grow.
A heavy rain might saturate the
soil with over 50 percent water,
thus reducing the air content to
nearly zero. If this condition
persists very long, plants simply
can’t grow. You’ve seen the effect
of waterlogging in those wet spots
every spring, but how often do you
recognize the marginal conditions
which result from some partial
exclusion of the necessary air
space? We often overlook this
phenomenon, and attribute the
lack of growth to an insufficiency
of plant food elements.
Of course, soils vary a great deal
in the physiology of the mineral
portion. The mineral portion of soil
is classified according to the size of
the particles, such as gravel and
stone, sand of various sizes, silt
particles, and clay. Clay is
Age.
LF |
Physics of
Good Soil
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393-6530
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especially interesting because the
individual particles can only be
seen with a very high powered
microscope. The finest clay is so
small that an electron microscope
is required. This very fine clay
holds *the key to soil fertility,
because of it’s ability to control the
nutrients required by plants. Also,
because of it’s extreme fineness,
soils high in this type of clay must
be more carefully managed.
Obviously, it is the fine particles
that compress more easily and
result in the alteration of the soil’s
physical properties.
Tread Lightly
Suffice it to say that we must
look at proven practices to
preserve good physical condition
in our soil. Anything that will in
crease organic matter, (or prevent
its destruction), will help maintain
Bucks begins planter leasing
DOYLESTOWN - In an effort to
promote the use of no-till as a
means of reducing soil loss and
non-point source pollution, the
Bucks County Conservation
District has arranged to coor
dinate a No-Till Planter Lease
Program with the Paul W. Histand
Company, of Doylestown.
Arrangements for leasing the
planter can be made, on a first
come-first serve basis, by con
tacting the Conservation District
at 348-1166.
AGRI-INC.
it. Cover crops, sod and hay crops,
and plenty of manure are the
obvious choices. Also, the less we
disturb soil, the easier it is to
maintain good physical condition,
so no-till farming is gaining
prominence for good reason. Worn
out soil can be due to lack of fer
tility, but is just as often due to the
physical breakdown of soil
structure.
Success in the dairy business, as
well as all other farm enterprises,
depends on good soil husbandry. A
basic knowledge and appreciation
of its properties is essential for
good management. Even Gran
dma recognized the importance of
treading lightly when she laid her
garden out in small plots separated
by paths and even board walk
ways, to keep the soil as loose as
possible.
It is anticipated that requests
will be for use on tracts of ap
proximately 20 acres, so as to
provide for the availability to as
many farm operators as possible.
The planter will be a White 5100
Seed Boss - 4 Row - with 30”
Spacing and will be available for
lease at the rate of $lO.OO per acre.
Of specific importance, to the
District program, are the three
"priority” areas of Bucks County
as delineated in the Mason-Dixon
Erosion Control Targeted Area.
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200 S. Spruce St. Annville, PA 17003
Phon* (717) 867-4936