HOME:
Current Soil Health News from
Hoorman Soil Health Services

August is a great month to plant fall cover crops, especially after wheat harvest. There are three major types of cover crops: Grasses, Brassicas, and Legumes. Grasses (oats, cereal rye) have a fibrous root system and absorb soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) while adding soil organic matter. Brassicas (oilseed radish, rape/canola) suppress weeds and insects and reduce soil compaction and add active organic matter. Legumes (crimson clover, winter peas) are nitrogen fixers that add soil nitrogen. Oats are easy fall crop to grow and may also be a source of forage. As a cover crop, drill 1 bushel or 30 to 60 pounds about 0.5 to 1.5 inches deep in the soil. If you are broadcasting seed, increase the seeding rate 10% (works well before a rain). Good seed to soil contact increases growth. Add 40 -50# N which may be in the form of manure, fertilizer, or as a legume companion crop to increase growth by 50% or more. If forage is desired, drill 2 bu,/A and add fertilizer or manure to get 1-3 t...

With wheat soon to be harvested, think about planting cover crops to improve their soil health. There are four major types of cover crops including grasses, legumes, brassica and others. Grasses tend to accumulate nutrients with their fibrous root system and generally make phosphorus more available. They generally have a higher carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Major grasses include oats, wheat, cereal rye, annual ryegrass, Sudan-sorghum, and barley. These grasses are a grown before soybeans, may absorb left over nitrogen from fertilizer or manure, are good erosion fighters, and reduce soil compaction. Cereal rye (wide leaf) is a winter annual that germinates at 30F. Cereal rye improves soil compaction and suppresses weeds. Annual rye (narrow leaf) is another winter annual with a tremendous root system but may be hard to kill in spring. Sorghum Sudan is a summer annual that dies with the first frost so it needs to be seeded immediately after wheat harvest. Mow or chop after it grows 3 fe...

  Many farmers are now just starting to plant corn. For Northern Ohio, the ideal time to plant corn is late April until May 10 for optimal corn yields. In the Midwest, estimated yield losses for corn are about 0.3% per day initially reaching about 1% loss per day by the end May (Nielsen, 2013). Yield losses are based on many factors including the risks of hot dry conditions during pollination, insect and diseases pressures, and a shorter growing season; which may or may not occur. In 2010-2011, late planted crops produced great yields because of timely summer rains. According to Peter Thomison, OSU corn specialist, “Lower grain yields are not a certainty with late plantings. While delayed planting may cause slightly lower yields, planting date is just one of many factors that influence corn yield. Weather conditions (rainfall and temperature) in July and August are probably the most important yield factors. However, if late planted crops experience severe moisture stress during pol...

With cold wet spring, farmers faces delays in spring planting. Generally, farmers try to get corn planted by May 10th and soybeans by mid-May to maximize yields. However, it does not pay to plant too early if the weather conditions and the soil is not fit. Farmers with large acreage may be tempted to get started a little early, but “mudding in” crops may result in hard compacted soils that get replanted. Two years ago in 2011, crops yields were high even though crops were not planted until June, because it rained all summer. Waiting for the soil to be fit is generally the best bet in the long run. Some soils (especially sandy soils or loamy soil) may tolerate planting when the soil is a little wet but clay soils are much more unforgiving. Plant growth may be hurt the entire season if the soil structure is damaged. Soil compaction reduces root growth which then results in reduced nutrient and water uptake. Seeds planted into compacted soils tend to have shallower roots and may be hurt b...