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Articles Tagged with ''soil moisture''

Soil Moisture by the Numbers

June 5, 2015 | Posted in Soil Health, Water Management

Do you ever wonder how much moisture you really can store for your crop? It all depends on your soil, says Penn State Extension.

Holding Soil, Moisture Yields Greater Productivity

A combination of no-till and extensive cover crop use has the Gaspers’ hilly soils yielding better than they ever did when they were conventionally tilling.

By Laura Barrera posted on April 17, 2015 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Precision Agriculture

Tom Gasper remembers one of the early years of no-tilling, when his father, Leo, took hay off a field during a drought.

How Deep to Drill Wheat, Barley and Oats to Find Moisture

April 17, 2015 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

Seed should be placed deep enough to have access to adequate moisture, yet shallow enough to emerge as quickly as possible, says University of Minnesota Extension.

Reconsider Manure Application with High Soil Moisture Conditions

April 2, 2015 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

With soil pores continuously filled with water this time of year, Penn State Extension says applying manure increases the risk of runoff.

Busting The Colder, Wetter Myth: Year 2

Soil temperatures were 0.1 to 1.75 F warmer in this no-tiller’s field during spring and summer compared to a neighbor’s conventionally tilled field.

By John Dobberstein posted on December 1, 2014 | Posted in Soil Health

A Wisconsin no-tiller says his second year of onfarm testing found his no-tilled, cover-cropped fields are generally the same temperature or warmer than his neighbor’s conventionally tilled fields.

NASA Instrument Shows Soil Moisture Fluctuates With Seasons

July 17, 2014 | Posted in Water Management

Source: NASA

Scientists working with data from NASA's Aquarius instrument have released worldwide maps of soil moisture, showing how the wetness of the land fluctuates with the seasons and weather phenomena.

Busting The ‘Colder, Wetter’ Myth With No-Till, Cover Crops

Scenarios in Indiana and Wisconsin seem to question the assumption that no-tilled fields with cover crops are slower to warm up and dry out than conventionally farmed soils.

By John Dobberstein posted on September 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Soil Health

One challenge often cited about adopting no-till and cover crops in colder climates is that no-tilled fields can be colder and wetter than conventionally tilled fields, potentially causing problems with timely planting and seedling emergence.

Rolling, Crimping Can Help No-Tillers Use Covers Better

Well-designed roller-crimpers, and a good management plan, can help no-tillers and strip-tillers smother weeds, improve soil protection and get the most from high-biomass cover crops.

By Mark Parker posted on May 1, 2013 | Posted in Cover Crops, Equipment

Rolling and crimping tall cover crops can help no-tillers and strip-tillers plant into heavy residue, preserve moisture and, in some cases, reduce herbicide use.

Frank Comments

No-Till Chalked Up Favorable Results From Drought Situation In 2012 Compared To Other Systems

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2012 | Posted in Water Management

With the drought having a major impact on yields and profits in many areas this year, farmers who no-till likely banked more dollars than neighbors using more intensive tillage practices.

Frank Comments

For Growers Who Faced A Serious 2012 Drought Situation, No-Till Chalked Up Favorable Results In Comparison With More Intensive Tillage Systems

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2012

With the drought having a major impact on yields and profits in many areas this year, farmers who no-till likely banked more dollars than neighbors using more intensive tillage practices.

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