No Till Food Plots - So Easy

[giles]

Sorry for the rambles. You say things that sometimes make me go off in another direction. I probably should've PM'd you as it didn't have much to do with your thread and soil, lol.

 

[at1010]

Sorry for the rambles. You say things that sometimes make me go off in another direction. I probably should've PM'd you as it didn't have much to do with your thread and soil, lol.

Dave, no need to apologize brother - PM or ask me questions, anytime.

As for predator/prey relationships, it is very complex as is the ups/downs of populations (IMO). Increase predator numbers, decreased habitat, liberal tag limits, increased poaching?, increased disease (EHD), etc.

Just to name a few items that may or may not have an impact on populations, within a specific area.

 

[at1010]

New Video
Conventional Tests vs. Haney - are we overusing fertilizer, based on the variability of soil test results?

This was an absolute blast to put together and took a lot of time but I learned a LOT from this experiment and urge others to try the same!

Get outside, and Build Better Soil! Build Better Soil!

 

[at1010]

After several soil tests the how’s and why’s I’ve decided to use a fish hydrolysate fertilizer to help push my production to the next level without oxidizing synthetics.

 

[giles]

We buried all of fish after fileting them in our garden. That was always my job while dad cleaned them. Hole digger.

 

[at1010]

Here is a good visual example of what we mean when folks say soil aggregates.

Get outside and Build Better Soil!

 

[at1010]

I was listening to this webinar with John Kempf today. Super interesting take on his definition of OM vs. Humics and what is most important. He explains the importance of the emphasis on MAC % - microbial active carbon, this is on the Haney Test Reports.

This is interesting to me, because, at 4.6% OM, my soil had a 185% MAC - which is WAY above Ward labs suggested range (50-75%). Not saying that is bad for my soil but shows the microbial activity is very high, which means I need to ensure an adequate carbon source is available to continue the balance, hence the addition of grass clippings and my continued mowing between inter-seeded rows. I should probably add straw but I want to experiment doing this all based on what I have on hand.

Lastly, I find it interesting because John explains that there is not any correlation between OM and microbial populations. He uses muck soils with 40% OM as an example. He talks about how although they have a high OM, they can hardly sustain a biological population....interesting stuff. John is a wealth of knowledge and far better to listen to than I, if this interests you - I highly suggest giving him a listen.

 

[at1010]

I often start off by stating "I am not an expert" - I say this because I have a desire to learn from those who have vastly higher levels of experience and knowledge on soil health.

Caleb Traugh has been a tremendous help and friend to me throughout the last several months as I bounce questions and ideas off him. I have recently spent a lot of time trying to better understand Ca: MG ratios (thanks to a suggestion Caleb gave to me to read "Hands-on Agronomy") and how these base saturations % can positively/negatively impact plant nutrient uptake.

As I continue to try to learn more, I wanted to share a write-up I found that I feel does a nice job of explaining the importance of base saturation %.
https://www.alcanada.com/.../552-Understanding_CEC.pdf

Hope you all enjoy it. Build Better Soil!

 

[at1010]

Just an update on the no-till garden. Very happy with the results, especially with the cold/wet Spring/Summer thus far.

 

[at1010]

So much rain in Ohio! Here is a video I did to show how growing cover can slow down/eliminate erosion.

Happy Sunday!

 

[at1010]

I am not all the way through this but thought I would share. REDOX chemist, specific to the soil, is fascinating!

In this webinar/podcast Olivier Husson explains the EH (redox potential) reading of soils, as well as PH readings. What these mean and why certain elements are often in oxidized form (iron and manganese), due to the EH/PH readings of the soil. If soil is oxidized, and we add MG/FE, in an effort to make those available, it will not impact the plants positively. . The only way to add these nutrients would be in a foliar application of already available (reduced chelated) form.

Hope this is useful.

 

[at1010]

Understanding fungi systems is crucial if we want to have a grasp on how the systems function from start to finish. Also recognize, what human interventions may impact these processes regardless of solely a positive or negative response.

Here is a very nicely done, and easy to comprehend article on saprophytic and mycorrhizal fungi.

The Battle Below – Saprophytes and Mycorrhizal Fungi Compete for the Same Substrate | slu.se

The soil of the conifer forest is layered; topmost, a carpet of carbon-rich litter, and below, the poorer humus. The litter is dominated by substrate degrading saprophytes, whereas mostly mycorrhiz...

www.slu.se

 

[Big_Holla]

Found this interesting for those who have tried spraying and planting at the same time.

UPDATE ** Here is the result:

 

[Big_Holla]

Reason I posted that is because I am way behind this year getting things done and this is something I was thinking I could get away with. Broadcast seed and then spray over top of it all. Thinking I will have to spray and then a couple days later maybe be safe to spread seed then, Will be interesting on what his results are though.

 

[at1010]

Reason I posted that is because I am way behind this year getting things done and this is something I was thinking I could get away with. Broadcast seed and then spray over top of it all. Thinking I will have to spray and then a couple days later maybe be safe to spread seed then, Will be interesting on what his results are though.

I know Danny well - he is a good buddy of mine and a HELL of a good deer hunter......

My suggestion is
spray - wait a few hours for it to dry, then seed/roll/mow

Ill avoid some of the scientific research I have read on this topic but it seems to make sense that GLY could/would impact seed germination if/when the seed gets coated.

 

[Big_Holla]

 

[at1010]

I typically don't watch Sturgis - I am sure he is a nice guy but after the "I coined this in 99" for the millionth time, I was over it.

I am sure these videos state that you can't mix grains and brassicas - that is his typical recommendation. I believe it is false as the day is long. I don't know why someone would not want to have plants growing in harmony with one another, taking advantage of all the things we know about soil, complimentary plant species, etc.

A good example is that brassicas are non-mycorhizzal - but if growing with companion crops that do work within the fungal networks, brassicas can take advantage of the fungal network!

This is the beauty of symbiosis!

I have ZERO dogs in the fight, and I just want everyone to be successful in their goals. I just want yall to be cognizant that some of the information spread out there is simply spread with the goal of not being "wrong" vs. spreading information that is fluid and adaptive over time based on new information that has been learned.

Anyone that is claiming a system that has worked for decades without needing updating, is a bit of a red flag to me.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Big_Holla]

I agree. I do like the idea of splitting a field down the middle so you can do crop rotation even if it's only a half acre. Of course with doing it this way there would be overlap it just does make some sense to give yourself a better chance for success each year.

 

[at1010]

I agree. I do like the idea of splitting a field down the middle so you can do crop rotation even if it's only a half acre. Of course with doing it this way there would be overlap it just does make some sense to give yourself a better chance for success each year.

That is a fine idea - especially if you want to plant clover on one half, or some other perennial that you don't want to terminate each year. This will allow the clover to fix N and then the brassicas/grains to take advantage of the N, once you do rotate.

However, if a system is well balanced and our mixes are focused around a solid CtoN ratio - we don't need to rotate crops. We are not planting monocultures where that is more so needed.

A solid mix can accomplish all of this, simultaneously.

I've been listening to some information about REDOX reactions in the soil and how if we focus on creating a soil environment that does not lend itself to an oxidizing environment, we can continue increasing the available nutrients and plant health in soils grown in those areas. They were even able to show some pathogen resistances in plants based on the EH (redox potential).

All of this might be much more than anyone cares about and I get that - I am a nerd about it. However, I think it is vitally important to realize the amount to learn about soil, pathogen resistance, soil fertility, nutrient uptake, etc. is damn near endless.

Just my rambling 2 cents!

 

[Big_Holla]

I updated Post #333 with the results video on whether gly that gets onto your seed would cause it not to grow/grow successfully. Pretty good results to show it isn't a good idea to spread seed and then spray after. That has been a recommendation I have seen on some of these no-till pages primarily on FB. Like I mentioned I had actually planned to do just this since I didn't have a lot of time and thought driving over it after seeding with the sprayer would help cutlipack it some with the 4 wheeler tires. Looks like I will try to spray first, let it sit a day or so, spread seed and fertilizer, then mow up high if needed.