Excessive water is considered a serious threat for yields. Luckily, the problem can be solved by using special farming implements – such as subsoilers.
Standing water occurs on the field as a result of disrupted soil structure, melting snow, or heavy rainfall, particularly in temperate areas during the winter months. In an attempt to prevent yield damage, farmers manage the excessive water by using various plows or subsoilers.
The occurrence of standing water on the field generally occurs in temperate climate areas as a result of heavy rainfall or melting snow during the winter months. In addition, accumulation of water on the field may occur as a result of disrupted soil structure followed by heavy rain.
Standing water seriously threatens the yields. For example, if young crops remain in water for more than 3 days, the entire crop production may be destroyed. Moreover, standing water on the field additionally prolongs the sowing period. In this regard, farmers oriented towards the best yield results practice the removal of standing water.
How to Remove Standing Water
Farmers who are lucky enough to have a natural fall or drainage ditch on their fields can manage the occurrence of excessive water easily. In a case where there is no natural fall or drainage ditch available, farmers can manage excessive water by using the following farming implements:
Plows – used for creating furrows around the field’s edges
Subsoilers – used for deep tillage, to break up compacted soil, thus allowing a free passage of air and water
Save the Yields from Drowning by Using Subsoilers
Subsoilers are special soil cultivators widely used for managing excessive water. By using subsoilers, farmers are able to perform deep tillage, loosen and break up compacted soil, thus enabling the penetration of air and water deeper into the soil.
Regarding the time of application, subsoilers can be used:
Subsoiler – a farming implement that removes the standing water from the field.
After the harvesting and before the sowing; as a soil preparational farming implement that will prevent or remove standing water from the field by loosening and aerating the soil.
During the crop vegetation period, when standing water occurs during the crop vegetation period, which is particularly dangerous to young plants. The application is more appropriate for low-density crops. If standing water occurs within the vegetation on the field covered with high-density crops, farmers may use a single shank subsoiler.
Single shank subsoiler
Subsoilers are special farming implements widely used for managing excessive water.
V-shaped and straight subsoiler tool frame
Legs – the spacing between the legs is variable. There are the three types of legs:
Straight – involve rake angle of 90° for minimal soil disturbance.
Curved – rake angle of the lower part is less than 90°.
Slanted – the legs are leaned sideways for minimal soil disturbance.
Excessive water is a serious obstacle that can be encountered while trying to achieve high yields and healthy crops. Therefore, a farmer should take care to prevent its occurrence or to resolve the problem as soon as possible if and when it does occur. In this regard, fields and orchards with a natural fall or drainage ditch have some advantage over other fields that are lacking a possible water removal solution.
A farmer can also use plows to create the furrows around the field’s edges or choose the subsoiling. Now, the question is: Why use subsoilers? Well, subsoilers are beneficial to managing excessive amounts of water and are adaptable to a farmer’s specific needs.
This article has not been revised since publication.
This post was created by Filip Gerin on July 14, 2021.
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