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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina 
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2008-01-24 150677
My area had much less rain last year than normal and this year is being forcast to be low also. So going into growing season with lower ground water levels than a year ago and concerns about rain. Irrigation is not an option.
Any suggestions on such as to nor to subsoil the ground, there is a hard pan about 14 inches down. Or plant lower number of seeds per acre or plant later or earlier or any thing else?
Thank you, kt
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 | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-01-24 150678
KT; Your growing season there and soil types are far different than here in eastern Iowa, but when we go into a short moisture growing season we have learned form experience some things to do and not do. I have no idea what your subsoil types are, but here it is mostly heavy clay that holds moisture real well, so we have learned that facing the prospect of a drought year we don't work soils any more than necesary before planting, especiall deep ripping, that only brings moisture to the surface that you don't want to loose. Plant early to shade the soil sooner, plant normal populations and keep fertillity at normasl levels. Most every seed company offers hybrids that excell in drought tollerence, but also may give up some high yield traits as a trade off. Use a pre emerge herbicide, not Roundup ready seed. Roundup requires that you let the weeds get established before you can kill them, those weeds suck far more moisture and nutrients than we thought in the past. Just don't take too drastic of steps by cutting populations, it may rain and you will wish you had a normal stand. Lots of other things I can't think of now, but your county extensuon people can help you on this too, Frank. ....
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 | candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota 
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2008-01-24 150683
KThompson,
Frank covered things pretty well. I would only add that if you have any crop residue remaining from the previous season's crops, that you leave it on top, if at all possible. Don't work it under. Use "no till" practices in dry years.
The most important thing is that you get your seed down into the moist soil. 2" is the normal planting depth for corn seed, but if you have to go down to 2-1/2" to find moisture, be sure to do so. (Straight from my own county agent)
Joel ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-01-25 150716
Thanks both of you.
I do not know if you can even find NON Round up ready seed around here. I used a pre-emergent last year on soybeans for the first time in years and then did follow up with Round Up later for weeds it missed. Got better results. That may be why my soybean yeild held fair for as little rain as we got. Again, thank you, Kt ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2008-01-27 150798
We normally have ample moisture from to year but there are those times. I don't mean to throw Ken in the furrow here but if the ground was sub soiled over the old plow sole it would allow the roots to penetrate to the newer depths. They have been as deep as 24" in deep tilled areas vs the plow sole depth. The soil will crust over soon after the sun hits it and it will basically be sealed. We have found that you can benefit from deep till both in wet as well as dry conditions. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-01-27 150810
Art; I should have been a bit more specific in not recommending the subsoiling. In our soil types here subsoiling is pretty much a fall only operation, spring subsoiling rough's it up too much and you end up with the best quality clods you ever saw. I do agree with subsoiling deep for better root penetration, we do that here too, maybe not every year but always in the fall. Frank. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-02-25 151655
Missed seeing your post Art and Frank's last one. Subsoiling here seems to be a lost tool for most. Quick disc job and gone. I talked with a couple of very experienced farmers a few years ago and both told of advantages to subsoiling. Had read where in parts of the country they subsoiled in the fall of the year to retain what rain they go and did so this year. Really glad for we have had some very good rains and very little has run off and for the last few days have water sitting on part of it. The subsoiling did a second job, located stumps to be removed.
Men, I do appreciate your feedback very much. Thank you. kt ....
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