Building up the soil

[LoessHillsArcher]

Hey guys, thinking ahead to next spring already. Here is the setup for one of our food plots. About 1.25 acres on a slight hill top. The soil sat barren for a little over a year, fox tail grew up strong. We had a farmer prepare the ground in late July this past summer. He very finely disked the soil and we broadcasted a mix of purpele tops and rape. They didn't grow due to a few different variables I'm sure. Here are a couple pics from Sept.

We are looking for a seed that we can plant this spring to help build the soil back up. Thinking a legume such as clover or alfalfa that will help put some nitrogen back into the soil. Weed control is a second concern, would mixing a cerail grain such as rye or oats help? Perhaps buckwheat? Just trying to work with more natural/sustainable food ploting rather than applying more fertilizers/chemicals for weed control.

We probably would end up plowing down some end spots of this plot in August/Sept. to plant smaller spots of brassicas or other cereal grains to entice deer under the bowstands!

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We are looking for a seed that we can plant this spring to help build the soil back up. Thinking a legume such as clover or alfalfa that will help put some nitrogen back into the soil. Weed control is a second concern, would mixing a cerail grain such as rye or oats help? Perhaps buckwheat? Just trying to work with more natural/sustainable food ploting rather than applying more fertilizers/chemicals for weed control.
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I would suggest a mix of oats and berseem clover. Berseem has performed very well for me and is an awesome plowdown.

The oats will help hold down weeds at first and then you can clip it a time or two if need be.

Check the cereal grain thread for more info but my berseem grew so thick it pretty much dominated everything else.

Here's a seed source: Berseem Clover it's inexpensive and very effective at soil building and nitrogen fixation.

Here's some of mine:

Just remember berseem cannot be frost seeded but you can plant in early spring with oats or spring triticale.

Till it all under in late August for cereal grains.

If the soil is poor then the brassicas most likely needed nitrogen real bad.

I would follow the berseem with cereal rye grain which will scavenge nitrogen from the berseem as it breaks down. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[shellie]

do your homework, looks like a sweet spot behind the 4 wheeler, , lookes like a ravine that comes up to that flat, excellent food plot location, good luck, not sure what kind of weed control problem you have, plant somthing that will choke those weeds the first yr without spraying, or somthing that you can spray early that wont mess with your plant.get a soil sample and go from there, also google food plots. Lee & Tiffany (gettin close) had a show dedicated to starting food plots, maybe that search will help. good luck.

 

[LoessHillsArcher]

Thanks guys, the spot by the wheeler is productive. Got 3 does out of that stand this year but these strong N and W winds have kept us out of that stand the past few weeks. Need to get another setup in there. Sounds like we've got a game plan...thanks a ton fellas!

 

[SEIowaDeerslayer]

In all honesty I'd plant it in either all white alice clover and mow it a few times to fix the nitrogen, or plant beans...then get a corn crop in there for 2010. I know small parcels of corn can get destroyed but after the cold temps this year I don't think you can go wrong with corn. Every deer I've seen besides the few does I've harvested have been in corn, which unfortunately I don't hunt over any. I hunt over alfalfa which has been a big buck magnet the last few seasons, but just not this one, which dbltree will tell you is why its important to plan a variety just to be prepared. Lesson learned, can't wait until next year!