CROP PRODUCTION: CROP ESTABLISHMENT STUDY NOTES

CROP PRODUCTION

CROP ESTABLISHMENT

Choosing a Site

  • Crop growth and development is affected by several key factors:
      - Soil type: Determines nutrient availability and water retention capacity.
      - Aspect & Topography: Influences sunlight exposure and drainage quality.
      - Climate: Impacts temperature, rainfall, and overall growing conditions.
      - Rotation: Affects soil fertility and pest management.

Soil Type

  • Particle Size: Understanding different soil types is critical for crop production.
Types of Soil:

  • Loam:
      - Holds water yet drains poorly.
      - Warms late, which may affect early plant growth.
      - Rich in potash, beneficial for crops.

  • Heavy Clay:
      - Sticky and difficult to work with.
      - Filtration may be slow, leading to waterlogging during rains.

  • Sandy Soil:
      - Free draining, prone to drying out quickly.
      - Warms early, which can beneficial for crop establishment.
      - Light and open, making it easy to cultivate but often low in nutrients.

  • Silt:
      - Intermediate type, providing fairly good soil structure and moderate drought resistance.
      - Warms fairly early compared to clay and loam soils.

Soil Type - Cropping

  • Recommended Crops for Soil Types:
      - Sandy Soil: Carrots, Barley.
      - Loam:
        - Medium to Heavy Loam: Potatoes, Winter Oilseed Rape, Field Beans, Winter Wheat.
        - Medium Loam: Potatoes.
      - Heavy Clay: Permanent grass, which is suitable for such soils.

Aspect & Topography

  • Optimal fields for crop growth share certain characteristics:
      - South Facing:
        - Receive more sunlight, enhancing photosynthesis and growth.
        - Warms up earlier in the spring.
      - Gently Sloping Fields:
        - Have better drainage.
        - Reduced risk of frost, which helps in sustaining crops.

Climate

  • Rainfall:
      - High rainfall can complicate cultivation and harvesting operations, possibly leading to lower yields.
  • Temperature:
      - Generally lower temperatures are found at higher altitudes, affecting the type and timing of crops grown.
  • Wind:
      - Exposed, upland fields may face challenges due to strong winds, which can damage crops and reduce yields.

Rotation

  • Continual cropping with one species can lead to several issues:
      - Build Up of Weeds, Pests & Diseases such as couch, eyespot, take-all, and eelworm.
      - Reduction in Fertility:
        - Continuous cereal cropping, for example, can deplete vital nutrients in the soil.
      - Damage to Soil Structure:
        - Problems such as plough pans and compaction can arise from mono-cropping practices.

Soil Management

  • Effective soil management aims to maintain:
      - Drainage: To prevent water logging and associated issues.
      - Structure: To support root growth and water infiltration.
      - Fertility: To ensure crops receive necessary nutrients.

Drainage

  • Proper drainage is crucial for:
      - Removing surplus water quickly.
      - Speeding up drying of the field.
      - Improving soil aeration, critical for root respiration.
Methods to Improve Drainage:
  • Field Drains: Installed to transport excess water out of the farming area.
  • Mole Drains: Create pathways within the soil for water movement.
  • Soil Loosening Equipment: Such as Subsoilers, Paraplow, Shakerator to break compacted soil layers.

Structure

  • Soil structure can be damaged by:
      - Continual Cultivation: Leads to poor soil compaction.
      - Working in Wet Conditions: Can compact the soil structure.
      - Heavy Equipment: Causes physical damage to soil layers.
Improvement Strategies:
  • Implementing good rotations and proper soil management techniques can enhance soil structure significantly.

Fertility

  • Soil fertility issues can arise from:
      - Continual Cropping: May deplete soil nutrients.
      - Poor Soil Management: Neglecting soil health.
Enhancement Strategies:
  • Utilizing rotations to allow soil nutrients to replenish.
  • Employing proper use of fertilizers and manures to maintain or enhance nutrient levels.

Review Questions

  1. Suggest a suitable crop for the following soil types:
       - Heavy Clay Loam: Permanent pasture.
       - Medium to Heavy Loam: Winter Wheat, Oilseed Rape, Field Beans.
       - Medium Loam: Potatoes.
       - Light Loam: Spring Barley.

  2. How can soil structure be damaged on tillage farms?
       - Continual cultivations.
       - Working in wet conditions.
       - Using heavy equipment.

  3. Give 3 reasons for rotating crops:
       - Improve soil fertility.
       - Enhance soil structure.
       - Reduce pests and diseases.