W. Carroll Johnson, III
Agronomist and Weed Scientist
I like to periodically visit internet forums that have discussions related to deer hunting and food plots. I guess the term is ‘lurking’ – since I neither post questions nor participate in discussions. I use these internet discussions as a source of ideas for my articles.
Agronomist and Weed Scientist
I like to periodically visit internet forums that have discussions related to deer hunting and food plots. I guess the term is ‘lurking’ – since I neither post questions nor participate in discussions. I use these internet discussions as a source of ideas for my articles.
One of the frequent topics in late winter or early spring is land preparation for food plots. Most of the responses and recommendations for land preparation sequences are conceptually correct. Sometimes a few posters lead readers to think that their personal recommendation must be followed to the letter, with no deviation. To paraphrase their decree: Failure to follow the exact land preparation protocol will guarantee food plot failure. (I have noticed similar posturing among precision rifle shooters describing their own rifle barrel break-in procedures.) Instead of dwelling on an exact sequence of events, my approach to land preparation is to focus on the goals of such preparation and frame these goals in a manner so that you develop your own protocol based on your unique situation.
For the purposes of our discussion, I have broken land preparation into two sub-categories: site preparation and seedbed preparation (also called conditioning).
Site preparation.
Food plots can be established in the most pristine of sites – old agricultural fields with deep friable soils. Or, food plots can be established in the roughest of brambles – clear cuts. One of the goals of site preparation is to gain the advantage over tough perennial weeds far in advance of planting. This is particularly important for food plots in ‘new ground’. Aggressive weed control during site preparation is the best opportunity to control tough perennial weeds such as briars, blackberry, trumpet creeper, johnsongrass, quackgrass, and common bermudagrass.
Site preparation weed control is equal parts tillage and nonselective herbicides. A disk harrow is often the implement of choice. If the site has large amounts of plant debris, a heavier harrow will cut the debris better than a lightweight implement. Gangs of harrow blades should be set for more aggressive action (blades set at a sharp angle) to cut roots and bury plant debris. Tillage also chops the roots, rhizomes, and tubers of perennial weeds which weakens the ability of perennial weeds to regenerate from these vegetative structures. When tillage is used sequentially with a nonselective herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup and generics), most perennial weeds are greatly suppressed before planting. In addition, the tillage–glyphosate sequence is significantly more effective than either tillage or glyphosate alone. The perennial weeds targeted for control during site preparation require a high rate of glyphosate; one gallon of glyphosate concentrate mixed in 50 gallons water – 2% solution. For those who rely heavily on glyphosate for weed control, please understand that glyphosate alone is often not sufficient for perennial weed control. Perennial weeds need to be weakened by repeated tillage before using herbicides.
Tillage during site preparation also defines the size and shape of the food plot. This is not a one-pass process. The first few tillage passes are brutally rough. Subsequent tillage operations break clods, eventually smoothing and leveling the site. This is also the ideal time to apply and incorporate lime to raise soil pH.
Successful site preparation is done several months in advance of food plot establishment. This is a classic example of the need to develop a calendar of events and logistical plan far in advance of food plot establishment. Doing so pays great dividends in weed control and successful food plot establishment.
Site preparation weed control is equal parts tillage and nonselective herbicides. A disk harrow is often the implement of choice. If the site has large amounts of plant debris, a heavier harrow will cut the debris better than a lightweight implement. Gangs of harrow blades should be set for more aggressive action (blades set at a sharp angle) to cut roots and bury plant debris. Tillage also chops the roots, rhizomes, and tubers of perennial weeds which weakens the ability of perennial weeds to regenerate from these vegetative structures. When tillage is used sequentially with a nonselective herbicide such as glyphosate (Roundup and generics), most perennial weeds are greatly suppressed before planting. In addition, the tillage–glyphosate sequence is significantly more effective than either tillage or glyphosate alone. The perennial weeds targeted for control during site preparation require a high rate of glyphosate; one gallon of glyphosate concentrate mixed in 50 gallons water – 2% solution. For those who rely heavily on glyphosate for weed control, please understand that glyphosate alone is often not sufficient for perennial weed control. Perennial weeds need to be weakened by repeated tillage before using herbicides.
Tillage during site preparation also defines the size and shape of the food plot. This is not a one-pass process. The first few tillage passes are brutally rough. Subsequent tillage operations break clods, eventually smoothing and leveling the site. This is also the ideal time to apply and incorporate lime to raise soil pH.
Successful site preparation is done several months in advance of food plot establishment. This is a classic example of the need to develop a calendar of events and logistical plan far in advance of food plot establishment. Doing so pays great dividends in weed control and successful food plot establishment.
Seedbed preparation.
Tillage
to finish preparing seedbeds can be easily timed to control emerged
weeds and deplete numbers of viable weed seed in the upper layers of the
soil profile. This is called stale seedbed weed control. Stale
seedbeds should be tilled at bi-weekly intervals prior to planting. In
forage crops, which have limited weed control options, this is a
valuable component of an integrated weed management system.
Seedbed preparation does far more than just depleting viable weed seeds with stale seedbed tillage. Proper seedbed conditioning prepares the soil for sowing small-seeded forages and sets the stage for uniform forage-stand establishment, which greatly improves the competitiveness of the forage crop with weeds. Skimpy stands are the bane of farmers, regardless of the crop. Skimpy or sparse stands prevent forages from competing with weeds, effectively giving weeds a ‘head start’, regardless of whatever herbicides are later thrown at the weeds. After working 25 years with Georgia peanut growers, whenever I notice a skimpy peanut stand there is a parallel weed control problem that herbicides cannot solve. The two crop production problems go hand-in-hand. This is equally the case for forages planted in food plots.
The key to seedbed preparation is just enough tillage to break clods to ensure good seed-soil contact. The seedbed needs to be slightly firm and settled. The reason for a settled seedbed is to prevent small forage seeds from being placed too deep by the cultipacker or drag. Too much seedbed tillage can be too much of a good thing. Excessive tillage will compact the soil and impede root growth. When finishing a seedbed, remember the rule of extremes: tillage when extremely dry or extremely wet will ruin the seedbed.
The exact techniques to produce a quality seedbed vary according to soil type and texture, along with the ever present factor – logistics. That is the reason why I prefer not to prescribe an exact sequence. Instead of focusing on an exact tillage sequence, focus on the overall objective: Produce a slightly settled seedbed, free of weeds and clods.
A disk harrow has been frequently mentioned as the implement of choice for seedbed preparation. Other tillage implements will produce similar results. Examples are the field cultivator (also known as a seedbed conditioner) and power tiller. Previous Whitetail News articles in the Turning Dirt series of articles discuss various tillage implements and how they are typically used. These articles are an excellent reference for alternatives to the disk harrow. These articles are available at www.whitetailinstitute.com/info/news.
My kids will attest to the fact that I have been a reluctant participant in the digital age. What little I know about computers and modern technology is fairly recent knowledge. Early in my remedial computer education, an instructor’s casual comment caught my attention: “Garbage in, garbage out”. The context of the statement was the quality of the computer output was no better than the quality of the data entered. This is true with site preparation, seedbed conditioning, and food plot success. If there is scant land preparation and not enough attention to detail, the resulting food plot will be a disappointment. Skimpy forage stands and weeds will rule the food plot. Garbage in, garbage out.
Seedbed preparation does far more than just depleting viable weed seeds with stale seedbed tillage. Proper seedbed conditioning prepares the soil for sowing small-seeded forages and sets the stage for uniform forage-stand establishment, which greatly improves the competitiveness of the forage crop with weeds. Skimpy stands are the bane of farmers, regardless of the crop. Skimpy or sparse stands prevent forages from competing with weeds, effectively giving weeds a ‘head start’, regardless of whatever herbicides are later thrown at the weeds. After working 25 years with Georgia peanut growers, whenever I notice a skimpy peanut stand there is a parallel weed control problem that herbicides cannot solve. The two crop production problems go hand-in-hand. This is equally the case for forages planted in food plots.
The key to seedbed preparation is just enough tillage to break clods to ensure good seed-soil contact. The seedbed needs to be slightly firm and settled. The reason for a settled seedbed is to prevent small forage seeds from being placed too deep by the cultipacker or drag. Too much seedbed tillage can be too much of a good thing. Excessive tillage will compact the soil and impede root growth. When finishing a seedbed, remember the rule of extremes: tillage when extremely dry or extremely wet will ruin the seedbed.
The exact techniques to produce a quality seedbed vary according to soil type and texture, along with the ever present factor – logistics. That is the reason why I prefer not to prescribe an exact sequence. Instead of focusing on an exact tillage sequence, focus on the overall objective: Produce a slightly settled seedbed, free of weeds and clods.
A disk harrow has been frequently mentioned as the implement of choice for seedbed preparation. Other tillage implements will produce similar results. Examples are the field cultivator (also known as a seedbed conditioner) and power tiller. Previous Whitetail News articles in the Turning Dirt series of articles discuss various tillage implements and how they are typically used. These articles are an excellent reference for alternatives to the disk harrow. These articles are available at www.whitetailinstitute.com/info/news.
My kids will attest to the fact that I have been a reluctant participant in the digital age. What little I know about computers and modern technology is fairly recent knowledge. Early in my remedial computer education, an instructor’s casual comment caught my attention: “Garbage in, garbage out”. The context of the statement was the quality of the computer output was no better than the quality of the data entered. This is true with site preparation, seedbed conditioning, and food plot success. If there is scant land preparation and not enough attention to detail, the resulting food plot will be a disappointment. Skimpy forage stands and weeds will rule the food plot. Garbage in, garbage out.
