This is a new stand of lucerne (alfalfa) that we sowed in August this year. A stand of lucerne normally lasts 5 years. This stand is very patchy - in the photo some patches are a vibrant green & lush whilst beside it the lucerne is thin & plants not growing. It has the agronomist and other farmers mystified. We are not really sure the reason. One theory is that the sandy soil is not allowing the moisture in, so the plants can’t grow. So after doing a test strip with some success it was decided to run an aerator over the whole paddock (much to our agronomist’s horror). Disturbing the lucerne like this will kill a percentage of plants but hopefully it will allow the water better penetration into the soil, and the remaining plants should thrive. Time will tell.
And if it doesn’t work? We will turn the irrigation off and stop watering it. We can’t afford to keep watering a paddock that is not yielding. Water is very expensive, and our irrigation allocation is just 15% this year so tough decisions have to be made about where we use it.
To put in perspective as to how big a deal this is for us - this is the paddock that we starting working back in April building channels (click), May building drains (click), June laser grading (click), July leveling (click), applying poultry manure (click) & lime (click), constructing lateral irrigator (click), deep ripping (click), August sowing (click), checking progress (click). And here is Phil observing what the water is doing after taking the first cut of hay off the paddock: (click)
I too had to come back and hope for an explanation in the comments. Truth be told, I wasn't sure which end of the tractor to look at. I hope you get good results!
![[Farm-ily]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cuevd-SYMy4/YIyA5jdbt4I/AAAAAAAASXQ/sHi3em0hoJcBb_ShOyZHasLlJYzWmBg8QCK4BGAYYCw/s1028/76.%2BMay%2B2021%2BBlog.jpg)
I am ignorant.
ReplyDeleteCan you explain for me please?
Which makes me feel a little like Pauline Hanson.
This is a new stand of lucerne (alfalfa) that we sowed in August this year. A stand of lucerne normally lasts 5 years. This stand is very patchy - in the photo some patches are a vibrant green & lush whilst beside it the lucerne is thin & plants not growing. It has the agronomist and other farmers mystified. We are not really sure the reason. One theory is that the sandy soil is not allowing the moisture in, so the plants can’t grow. So after doing a test strip with some success it was decided to run an aerator over the whole paddock (much to our agronomist’s horror). Disturbing the lucerne like this will kill a percentage of plants but hopefully it will allow the water better penetration into the soil, and the remaining plants should thrive. Time will tell.
DeleteAnd if it doesn’t work? We will turn the irrigation off and stop watering it. We can’t afford to keep watering a paddock that is not yielding. Water is very expensive, and our irrigation allocation is just 15% this year so tough decisions have to be made about where we use it.
DeleteTo put in perspective as to how big a deal this is for us - this is the paddock that we starting working back in April building channels (click), May building drains (click), June laser grading (click), July leveling (click), applying poultry manure (click) & lime (click), constructing lateral irrigator (click), deep ripping (click),
August sowing (click), checking progress (click).
And here is Phil observing what the water is doing after taking the first cut of hay off the paddock: (click)
Oh Dear.
ReplyDeleteAt least his green tractor matches the decor.
ReplyDeleteThe dust!
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea, I hope that it solves the problem. Diane
ReplyDeleteI hope it works...I hate for you to not at least the normal return for all your work and expense.
ReplyDeleteI too had to come back and hope for an explanation in the comments. Truth be told, I wasn't sure which end of the tractor to look at. I hope you get good results!
ReplyDeleteIs there a way to share this conundrum with other local farmers to see who is getting different/worse/better results?
ReplyDelete