No till drilling an old pasture

[treeguy]

Hello,

I am planning on planting fall plots this year with a Great Plains 606t. This ground was previously pasture so I assume it in compacted? Although I am not sure how to check. I asked the woman at NRCS if the ground could be too compacted for the drill to work and she suggested light discing. I bought a disc for my tractor this spring, but haven't used it yet.

Here was my plan:
7/15 brush hogged
8/1 glyphosate spray
8/19 drill brassicas , respray if needed

If it is recommended to disk , could I do it on 8/19 right before drilling. Will a disk get through the dead vegetation? I also have a tiller and a plow if any of those would be better.

Thank you!

 

[davidhelmly]

Hello,

I am planning on planting fall plots this year with a Great Plains 606t. This ground was previously pasture so I assume it in compacted? Although I am not sure how to check. I asked the woman at NRCS if the ground could be too compacted for the drill to work and she suggested light discing. I bought a disc for my tractor this spring, but haven't used it yet.

Here was my plan:
7/15 brush hogged
8/1 glyphosate spray
8/19 drill brassicas , respray if needed

If it is recommended to disk , could I do it on 8/19 right before drilling. Will a disk get through the dead vegetation? I also have a tiller and a plow if any of those would be better.

Thank you!

Just my opinion but I wouldn't disc, you will just be bringing tons of buried weed seed to the surface to germinate and grow. I have planted several plots into old pastures and hay fields in the last couple years with good luck, if it's not extremely tall I would spray it a couple times with glyphosate with the last spraying being as close to planting time as possible and then drill into the dead thatch after a good rain to soften the ground.

 

[Bill]

The Great Plains will cut through it even if it is compacted. Brassicas don't go deep in the soil. If you think the soil is compacted maybe add some ground hog or daikon radish to the brassicas. They will help loosen the soil.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

You should be able to drill into those areas no problem. My only concern would be that the existing residue is too thick, even after the mowing and spraying. I would really try to get another glyphosate app on any things that weren't fully killed.

I have been transitioning quite a bit of old pasture to something else and I can usually get a 95% kill with the high label rate. The issue is that the dead residue on the surface still needs some time to break down. Maybe plan a backpack or hand sprayer on hand for the day of your drilling to clean up anything misses as well.

 

[bwoods11]

We have done it … taking out any potential cedars, small shrubs , mow/spray . That’s how my 107 in Missouri became crop land.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I don't think a disk would do a great job on established sod that hasn't decomposed at all yet. I'd just go with your plan and keep your fingers crossed. The first year is typically the most challenging, so it should get better with time.

I've had good luck with a late April spraying to take out cool season grasses when they are about 4-6" tall. I'd recommend that for your plot next year.

 

[bigboreblr]

IFalot of thatch is an issue, go with seeds that can germinate pretty easy. I haven't done a ton of brassicas, but turnips and daikon do fine even without a drill. I'd incorporate some small grains in there too.

What kind of soil do you have?

IF you feel you should of disced, then disc a section of it. Compare disced to no disc.

I always throw some clover in, no matter what time of the year I plant.

Did you ID what was in the pasture before you worked on it? You can tune what you plant to combat your ptoential problems next year.

Have an idea what you'd like to do for year 2?

If you plan on doing prescribed burns, those discs an/or rototiller will be handy.

 

[356]

I use a light duty No-Till and would never consider disking first.

I have used a similar mow/spray/plant rotation and it worked fine. Other option would be spay/burn/plant if you have rain in the forecast, spray, wait 1-4 weeks (based on weather) and burn just before the rain and plant on the same day.

 

[Newbie]

I don't have a drill, but I no tilled (spray/throw/mow) a 3 acre overgrown pasture this year. 1 round of gly + 2,4d and another round of gly about 3 weeks apart. Threw into standing thatch then mowed it down. There was plenty of soil exposure after the 2 rounds of herbicide. Results still pending, but I'm hopeful. Your situation may differ, but I definitely don't think a disc/tiller was necessary in my situation. Personally, I'm glad I avoided breaking soil.