We plant our wheat as soon as we harvest the corn. First we use a rotary mower to shred the corn stalks and any crop residue left on the field. Next we run a light harrow over the field to work the organic matter into soil and destroy any weeds that happen to be growing. We use as little tillage of the soil as we can. The wheat is then drilled followed by a light compactor to settle the seed into the ground. That's about it. We will leave the wheat to grow over the winter to protect the bare soil, and in most cases turn it under as a green manure crop in the spring and plant soybeans the following year.
2007-09-19 15:50:45
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Plow in order to loosen and ariate your soil. Do not do this when it is wet, as this will compact your soil. Do not do this when it is dry, as your soil could blow away, and also compact. Be able to form a ball of dirt that will hold together, but crumble eaily. Many cultivated feilds have a "clay pan" or hard layer that forms just below the plow depth. If you live in a hot dry area, this may not be so bad for water retention. If you live in a wet area that is cool, Like if you want to plant winter wheat, as I do in North Texas, You may consider barrowing a deeper plow every several years. It all depends on your individual situation. After you seed it, let the plants get a few inches high before applying a light total... like 13 13 13 fertilizer, sparingly. In soil that is alkaline and not acidic, after the first couple fertilizer applications switch to nitrogen only. Phosphorous binds the iron in the soil and plant and makes it unusable. If your soil is red, this will not be as much a problem, because the red is iron rust. All plants like small applications of nitrogen frequentily. Cut off nitrogen when you want it to head out, If you are making it for flour. If it is just hay, cut it before it heads out. Of course you do not need to fertilize, but then you should have cover crops, rotations, so that you do not depleate your soil. Tubors, like potatoes and turnips, have the unique ability to store nitrogen in sacks in their roots from the air. Just plow them in the ground.
2007-09-19 12:20:22
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answer #2
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answered by Brent S 1
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