Tires to Overcome Soil Compaction
Recently we ran across this interesting article about some of the methods vegetable growers are using to minimize soil compaction in their fields. We spend a lot of time talking about soil compaction, but most of the time it’s in relation to commodity crops such as corn and soybeans in spite of the fact that the same negative consequences of soil compaction (limited rate of water flow, reduced aeration, and an inability for roots to penetrate the soil to name a few) can hinder yields for all types of growers, including vegetable growers. As the article circulated the office, we couldn’t help but think about how our farm tires are designed to help in all of these applications.
Whether walking the fields or driving machinery on them, the soil is being impacted; any traffic serves to push soil particles together, eliminating pockets in the ground that hold the valuable air and moisture plants need to flourish. While traffic in the field causes compaction, the reality is that being in the field is unavoidable. But there are various methods growers are using to minimize their impact when there, such as creating permanent beds to reduce till and implementing no-till practices to keep their soil healthy and productive. No matter what practice they choose, we have a tire that is ready to assist.
Permanent beds provide an attractive solution in the battle against soil compaction, as they seek to minimize impact by creating pathways dedicated to traffic, limiting compaction to specific areas and keeping it away from growing areas. It’s here that our ever-expanding range of tire sizes are extremely beneficial. We continue to grow the available sizes of our tractor tires, ensuring vegetable farmers have an option to keep their machines operating in established rows. As some larger growers using permanent beds are turning to flotation tires to minimize impact in highly trafficked areas, they will discover a multitude of our tires designed to operate at a decreased tire pressure, creating a larger foot print that minimizes compaction without affecting performance.
Vegetable growers practicing reduced till are moving away from conventional forms of tillage for deep-zone tillage, with the benefit of it being that it more efficiently breaks up plow plans. Because of this, water can more easily penetrate the soil and plant’s roots can grow deeper. However, the challenge facing reduced till growers is the need to use large and powerful machinery to penetrate deep into the ground—without that machinery doing more harm than good. Growers practicing deep-zone tillage will be excited to hear that we're constantly working to outfit today’s large machines with tires that can not only maximize their performance in the field, but also minimize their impact on it.
As no-till farming has gained acceptance and become more frequently practiced by row croppers, other growers have taken notice, and it is becoming an increasingly common practice for vegetable growers. Because there is no tillage in no-till farming, growers must be thoughtful about how they get into their fields. Whether they choose a flotation tire or an IF/VF tire, we have options that will help no-till farmers seed, spray, and harvest their crops without negatively impacting their soil’s health.
Today’s farmers face a lot of challenges, but they have a lot of options available for handling those challenges. We purpose build our tires to help farmers meet the problems facing them in the field. Whether you’re practicing conventional tillage, reduced till, no-till, or permanent beds, we have an option for you. Contact your local tire dealer to learn more!
