Objectives
The
goal of the land aerator project is to prevent soil erosion into
Pipestem Creek, Seven Mile Coulee and Beaver Creek by encouraging
no-till practices. This will be accomplished by applying the
aerator to land removed from the Conservation Reserve Program and
other cropland and pasture which would otherwise be subject to
plowing or tillage.
Project Description
The
project will include using a tractor and land aerator in place of
tillage on cropland (focus on expired CRP entering back into ag
production), hayland and pasture. The focus will be on land in the
Lower Pipestem Creek Watershed, Beaver Creek Watershed, and Seven
Mile Coulee Watershed.
Aerator
Benefits
Hayfield and pasture aeration increases productivity. As the
aerator's blades spiral into the ground, slicing through rhizomes,
it stimulates growth and breaks up soil compaction. With the
aerator's "No-Till" system, the ground behind remains smooth and not
turned over like old conventional methods. Aeration increases
productivity by keeping soils loosened and opened up to allow
fertilizer and rain to absorb, eliminating erosion and run off. By
adjusting the off-set in the drums, the tandem offer simple aeration
for hay fields to heavy land clearing.
o Clearing
brush in one pass saves money in time and fuel costs for cattle and
hay producers, and wildlife managers.
o Increases
wildlife and cattle stocking rates.
o Least
aggressive offset--aerate hayfields and leaves ground smooth. Most
aggressive offset--clear up to 6in-8in diameter trees.
o Use
in place of sub-soilers.
o Aerates
all soil types.
o Increases
water retention.
o Allows
root-bound hayfields to breathe.
o Relieves
soil compaction.
o Allows
fertilizer to seep in.
o Fractures
soil, hardpan and sod-bound ground 18"-24" deep.
o Mulches
brush 6"-8" in diameter.
o Stimulates
growth.
o "No-Till"
application, leaves ground smooth.
o Over-seed
in one pass with seeder package.
Manure Composter Project
The Stutsman County Soil Conservation
District has recently leased a Brown Bear Manure Composter for a new
Manure Composter Project. The
goal of this project is to aid in manure management in the Pipestem
Creek, Beaver Creek and Seven Mile Coulee watersheds.
Contact the Stutsman County Soil Conservation District for more
information.
The composter provides the following:
1) Reduction in
total manure mass of over 50%.
2) The end
product from the process is not considered manure, but is a soil
amendment. This allows
additional amounts to be added in fields.
3) The compost
product is easy to spread without the hassle of “lumps” or excessive
twine.
4) The compost
process allows breakdown of most organic materials including dead
animals.
5) Retains
nutrients more efficiently for use in crop production.
6) Useful for
spreading on no-till fields. Correct
application will not result in seedling damage.
Scheduling
Producers
will schedule the aerator or composter through the watershed project
staff. Producers in the watersheds will be given first access and will be first come, first served. Producers outside of
the watershed area will be addressed after watershed area
producers.
The
tractor will come full of fuel and leave full. Fuel for the tractor
will be provided by the producers.
