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Post by ufarms on May 13, 2014 2:26:04 GMT
Jim, How does this tool handle soil moisture? We have tried several different tillage practices over the years and recently have been looking at some vertical tillage. for several years we ran the rawson triple coulter system and quite using it because here in central iowa we would be pulling up to much soil moisture and make the ground mucky for the planter to run in. Recently we have just been using a phillips rotary harrow ahead of planting corn. however that doesnt seem to be enough.
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Post by Jim on May 27, 2014 1:46:09 GMT
Sorry I was unable to complete this response when I tried several days ago. I characterize the CurseBuster's ability to handle moisture as the "normalizer". By that I mean that it can venture out into soils that would by far too wet to work with anything else I've ever experienced. The tine will not compact. It is designed wrong to compact. (Not at all like the aerway which is a fantastic packing device.)
From this point the tine action will cause excessive moisture to migrate downward and in very dry conditions will bring capillary water upward. In fact it will cause moisture to migrate in this situation right on out the top to the air. NOT GOOD!!!
Hence the rotary harrow addition. The harrow action produces a pore size change and thus effectively stops the upward capillary water movement. we like to see the harrow running one to two inches into the field surface in the springtime and fall to create a nice seedbed that dries normally for ideal planter operation and causes the planter to place the seed into the moisture that has concentrated at the interface of the two tillage actions. The results are very unique and have resulted in very uniform emergence.
All the while the crop residue is being kept on the surface and the old roots remain in place to decompose where they grew last year.
We discourage using rolling baskets or the like in the spring unless the planter is chasing the CB in the field. Most folks like the row cleaners for corn.
The Phillips Harrows don't resemble the one you are pulling now iun terms of performance. THe vertical tillage action of the tines make the harrow really become a serious tillage device instead of "rake".
Hope this is helpful. God Bless.
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Post by Carl Brubaker on Sept 3, 2015 8:21:24 GMT
thanks for the info, question to you from a no tiller in a dry area, with hard pan at 3 inches, he is concerned that the curse busted soil could dry out more than if not tilled because of holes in ground, I assume and expect the result to be the opposite, with air coming in and water up, I explained to him on our tiled ground what we see with alfalfa in a drought, above the tile is where the hay grows which he found quite fascinating, what is your educated explaination?
Carl Brubacher
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Post by Jim Martindale on Sept 3, 2015 8:25:17 GMT
Carl,
The hole that is left open on a sunny day will allow moisture to escape into the atmosphere. The tine action does cause capillary water to rise in the soil profile. If the opening is left unprotected or unshaded then the moisture can escape.
One of the major functions of the rotary harrows is to stop this from taking place by occluding the hole.
One of the most important things that will be achieved in this arid environment is the amount of water that will be stored instead of running off the fields.
just how much moisture does this farm get in a year?
Hope this is helpful. God Bless.
Jim
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