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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 2) Environmental Discussion Forum
MikeJ
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 1
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 Need translation of farm terms - 2005/10/28 11:12 I read the article linked from the home page titled "No-Till Proves Best in Long-Term Study". I'm a gardener, not a farmer, so I don't know what the techniqqes are that are described in the article. In particular I want to know if the information there can be applied to a home vegetable garden.

Here are some of the terms used in the article that I don't know the meaning:

moldboard plowing
12-inch chisel plow system
6-inch bedding and rebedding system
"Ripping the soil to 16 inches..."
"Also, soil compacted from wheel traffic had substantially higher worm activity, which served as a large benefit to the no-till system."

Again, I don't necessarily want to learn all about farming although I do have a general interest and like to learn new things. What I am mainly looking for is information that I can use in my own garden.

I also want a chance to use some emoticons!!!!!
Yee-haaa
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Jean Valjean
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A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 23
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 Re:Need translation of farm terms - 2005/11/06 16:08 Hey MikeJ -

I think your request needs a bump. . .

I would like to know some of these answers also.

Can anyone out there describe what moldboard plowing and chisel plow system do?
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billyW
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A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 13
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 Re:Need translation of farm terms - 2005/11/07 09:19 A moldboard plow turns the previous crop, or cover crop under by digging into the soil and then rolling it over. This puts roots/dirt side up, and green/brown matter down, buried in the dirt to become fertilizer/food/tilth for the next crop. It is done in the fall after last crop, to prepare the soil for next spring. It has all winter to decompose. A cover crop is planted on top of this, and it is turned in at the end of winter/early spring to provide nutrients to the new crop.

Chisel point is a straight piece of bar (chisel) rammed into the ground and drug. It cuts a small channel into the ground, for aeriation and allowing water into compacted soil. Much like core aeriating does to a lawn.
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zorban99
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A Fertile Cocoon
Posts: 1
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 Re:Need translation of farm terms, no- & low-till - 2006/03/06 17:52 This topic is worth much more input and discussion. I know at least one farmer on our Food Circle membership roles who advocates no-till/low-till methodologies, and I'll pass the word on our bulletin board regarding this WormDigest forum/topic, and encourage our farmers to post here, too.

Happy worms make healthy soil, and
Healthy soil makes happy plants, and
Happy plants make healthy food, and
Healthy food makes happy people, ergo
Happy worms make for a happy world.

Great forum - great web site! I'll be back...

 Dave Lawrence
Webminion + @ + KCFoodCircle.Org
http://www.KCFoodCircle.org
Supporting your local farmer
- providing good food.
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WormMainea
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A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 149
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 Re:Need translation of farm terms, no- & low-till - 2006/04/28 14:57 This is an interesting thread. I keep hearing about the benefits of no till, but at the same time some people advocate turning over your garden soil inthe spring. What's the deal? I garden in raised beds and sow cover crops (that die) in the autumn. I ususally just push my seeds/dig seedlings into this without turning over/tilling. Am I mising something? WormMainea.com
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pixelphotographer
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A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 11
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 Re:Need translation of farm terms, no- & low-till - 2006/10/11 19:48 tilling is different than turning over your soil
you can turn over your soil with a hoe or shovel
you till with a tiller or tractor
the weight of the tractor or tiller over time will cause a hardpan also tillers and tractors are usually set to a certain depth unless you change the depth you till at each time you till at the same depth every time causing a hardpan soil underneath that depth. hardpan is compacted soil just below the depth of the tillers tines. this makes it difficult for roots to grow any further down.
turning over your soil by hand isnt as precise as a tiller or tractor would be and the only weight is your own not a heavy tiller or tractor. because its not as precise you arent tilling to lets say 12 inches everytime like the tiller or tractor would do.
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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 2) Environmental Discussion Forum

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