Has the rainy weather left your planting season stuck in the mud? If you were among the many Alabama farmers who had to delay planting this year's crops, all might not be lost after all.
Although Alabama growers generally plant crops, like corn, beginning in early March, the weather-induced delayed planting may end up being a mixed blessing. Before you pull out the pitchforks and run screaming, think about what could have been. If crops were planted before the monsoon season we recently experienced in Alabama, the chances for a good yield are slim.
According to aganytime.com, planting too early under poor conditions can definitely impact yield. It is also important to plant when soil temperatures and conditions are good as opposed to following the planting calendar. The dates on the planting calendar are based on the average year under average conditions. However, soil that is too cold or too wet can and will wreak havoc on your crops.
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Corn planted in saturated soil. |
Just how do these conditions affect crops?
1) To begin with, soil that is too cold (meaning below 55 degrees F-the optimum temperature for seed germination) can cause the seeds to remain dormant and ultimately become more vulnerable to diseases, insects and animal predators.
2) Adequate soil moisture and a high soil oxygen concentration are ideal for seed germination and plant growth. On the other hand, a saturated soil can restrict plant growth and decrease oxygen availability to the plant-so basically the seed and plant can drown in water-soaked, oxygen-less soil.
3) Saturated soils also inhibit root growth, leaf area expansion and the entire photosynthesis process. The root dies due to lack of oxygen.
4) Soil compaction is another concern. When soil particles are compressed in muddy conditions, there is a significant decrease in pore space and soil density. Seeds cannot germinate, root and plant growth are in danger and nutrient uptake is difficult due to a lack of oxygen. Soil compaction occurs primarily when equipment passes over a field during over-saturated and muddy soil conditions. The best defense is a good offense. Stay out of the field until conditions improve. If mud is sticking to the tires and the ruts made in the soil are deeper than one inch, that's a good indication to hold off planting until the soil dries.
5) Soil crusting occurs when a hardened layer forms on the surface as the wet soil dries. This crust can prohibit seedlings from emerging. Use a rotary tiller or hoe to break up the crust and aid seedling emergence. The faster the soil is broken up, the better the survival rate of the seedlings.
To give your crop the best chance of emerging properly and getting off to a good start, it's important to follow good planting practices as opposed to the dates on a calendar or almanac. Those are both good tools to gauge the planting season, but the true predictor of a healthy crop yield is the condition of the soil. In addition, proper seed depth and planting density are important and can best be done when soil conditions are favorable.
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Corn planted in favorable soil conditions. |
Planting later in the season doesn't have to have a negative effect on your crops. With a little planning and some adjusting to the conditions, this could still be a bumper crop year. Happy harvesting!