Subsoiling
The main purpose of deep tillage is to break through the silt, which is created by many years of tillage at the same depth. Silt is a compacted, impenetrable layer of soil that stops air circulation and, above all, water draining into the depths. The positive effects of such deep tillage are soil drainage, soil aeration, and thus stimulating soil microbiological activity.
When we loosen the soil, we achieve that the soil is less compacted and enable easier root growth into deeper layers of the soil. It is known that if the roots cannot break through the silt, they redirect their growth horizontally and continue to grow. If we have a dry period, this is very bad, because they do not reach the deeper layers of the soil, which still retain a certain amount of water, and therefore suffer drought stress more quickly. In periods of high rainfall, silt also causes water to stagnate on the surface of the soil. With deep tillage, we can alleviate this stagnation, because we loosen the soil deeply, break through the silt, and therefore the water drains faster. Also, certain versions of deep tillers have a drainage cone installed behind the head of the tiller, which creates a natural tube in the depth, which serves to drain water from the surface into the nearest drainage ditches. This measure is much more effective if we start with the processing itself next to the water drainage ditch and then process inland. This directs the flow of water into the ditch. When we deeply loosen the soil, we bring air into the depth of the soil. Air allows faster reproduction and activity of microorganisms in the soil. When we have good activity of microorganisms, we also have more nutrients available to plants.
Additional information
Subsoiling does not have to be done every year. It is best to use this measure in crop rotation. By this we mean that it is done when there is grain or oilseed rape on the surface and the field is empty during the summer months. In such a case, the same area is cultivated every second or third year, depending on the crop rotation.
Why Perform Deep Subsoiling?
- Prevention of Soil Compaction (Hardpan Layers)
Due to machine traffic or repeated shallow tillage, an impermeable layer can form in the soil, restricting root growth.
- Improvement of Aeration and Water Permeability
Deep loosening allows better absorption of rainfall and reduces water stagnation on the surface.
- Promotion of Root Growth
Plants can penetrate deeper into the soil, giving them access to more nutrients and water, especially during dry periods.
- Increase in Soil Biological Activity
A better soil structure promotes the activity of microorganisms and earthworms, contributing to natural soil fertility.
Climate Farm Demo
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