6 Soil Types and Why DIY Farm Drainage Will Work for You
Soil is the foundation of all of agriculture, especially for farmers. Each soil type tends to present its unique problems. Clay soils experience drainage problems and don't suit all kinds of plants, while sandier soils require more watering. One of the top concerns we hear from farmers is that "self-tiling isn't going to work in my soil type." Clay soils contain tiny particles, the smallest of all soil types. But the small particle size is the beginning of why clay is so hard to dig and self-install drainage. Clay is also its thin, flat shape meaning the particles become compacted far easier than round particles like sand. How and why will DIY farm drainage work for your soil, your farm, and you? Let's DIG into the six soil types and why self-installing drainage using Farm Xport works for almost all of them.
Soil stores nutrients for plant growth and water. When the water table is high, it impacts a farm. The soil doesn't encourage roots to grow deep into the ground where beneficial microbes exist. The soil type affects farmers' ability to assist their land's water table and supply. The six soil types are CLAY, SAND, SILT, PEAT, CHALK, and LOAM soils.
🌱 Clay soils are the heaviest soil type. They are nutrient-rich and run wet and cold and baked dry during summer.
🌱 Sand soils are lighter but run low in nutrients. They are drier, warmer, and often acidic.
🌱 Silt soils are considered fertile. These soils may be light but tend to retain moisture and compact easily.
🌱 Peat soils are considered moist and high in organic matter.
🌱 Chalk soils can be light or heavy and contain calcium carbonate or lime, making them very alkaline.
🌱 Loam soils avoid the extremes that each of the other five types faces since loam soils are mixtures of clay, sand, and silt.
Most farmers strive to achieve the highest yields possible to consider a growing season and harvest a "success." If achieving higher results and higher profits are the goals, there is quite a bit a farmer must consider. They must seed the correct crop type at the right time and place. The right place may not only be a specific geographical location or a particular climate, but most farmers may think it rests more on the soil type as the deciding factor. How can anyone be in control of the soil type that rests under their feet and under their crops?
Many growers don't feel a self-installing drainage is an option because clay is their prevalent soil type. Although clay soil's small particles make it difficult to dig, it holds water better than other soil types. This higher water holding capacity and thick consistency make it difficult for the crops to extend their roots into the soil. Unless a crop has a healthy root system that is encouraged to grow deeper into the ground, it will not be able to live up to its full genetic potential. Farmers' waterlogging may be caused by surplus rains and wet weather and look like standing water in their fields. Still, it is due to the soil profile below the ground's surface being saturated with water. High water tables impact the crops' ability to effectively and efficiently use water and nutrients, which means that the farmer will not see the profits that he probably hopes to see from his yields. Adding organic matter and combining it with the clay soil will assist with compaction and drainage, but what is the impact of continuously purchasing these materials on a farmer's bottom line? Clay is ubiquitous in soil and found all over the world. How do farmers worldwide battle having clay-based ground as the foundation of their farm business?
There are four types of clay soil, all of which are known to present a challenge when digging to install drainage. The amount of clay that exists determines the characteristics of the clay soil. The percentages are silt soils (0% - 10% clay), clay soils, soils with 25% clay, and soils with 40% clay. The clay particles in the earth not only make it difficult to dig and cause it to hold more moisture but draining clay soils can prove problematic. The ground forms tight layers that will not allow drainage, and moisture issues will present themselves, most pronounced after rain or a particularly wet season.
The reasons to install farm drainage are numerous, particularly with clay soil, but ultimately it comes down to increasing your yield and maximizing profit. Turning to a contractor in this case to install your farm drainage system may be a grower's first thought. Investing in land drainage for your farm is a business decision. If you want to maximize your return on investment, spending the money on a contractor may diminish your business's overall profitability. Soil-Max makes tiling incredibly affordable, and a one-time, up-front investment in a tile machine typically can be recouped within the first year. Plus, it will produce ripple-effect benefits for years to come. The enhanced agricultural drainage system that is created helps expand profits. At the same time, ancillary expenses are reduced through savings in machinery wear and tear, erosion and runoff prevention, and lower crop drying costs, providing significant benefits for you, the producers.
Farm Xport offers the entire family of Soil-Max drainage installation solutions, including the Pull-type, ZD1600, and ZD1200 ploughs. These ploughs work in 80% of all soil types. You heard that right, 80%! Their thinner profile shank allows them to move through the soil quickly. Farmers who self-install drainage see up to a 40% yield increase afterward, and most claim a complete return on investment within one growing season. WOW. Don't miss out! Farmers globally know the advantages that self-installing drainage on their land provides. Connect with us and listen to the testimonials of farmers like yourself whose profits have grown after self-installing drainage. Schedule a call with us today to discuss your soil type and the solutions that we have available for you. Click the button below and get started on making the most of your soil type today.