[PPT] - NO-TILL & MINIMUM-TILL ORGANIC VEGETABLE AND FRUIT PRODUCTION PowerPoint Presentation

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NO-TILL & MINIMUM-TILL

ORGANIC VEGETABLE AND FRUIT PRODUCTION

TRIAL AND ERROR

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Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center

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Winter Scene—Farm Stand

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OUR FRONT YARD IN WINTER

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WORLD-WIDE, AGRICULTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FROM 40% TO 50% OF ALL CARBON EMISSIONS EVERY YEAR.* AND A LARGE PART OF THAT IS DUE TO TILLAGE. *ACCORDING TO WORLD BANK

RESEARCHERS.

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Carbon Sinks

OCEAN FOSSILIZED ATMOSPHERE FARM FORESTS

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FOREST AND FARM SOILS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINKS AND THEY ARE MOSTLY EMPTY, HAVING OFF-GASSED ALMOST 75% OF THEIR CARBON IN THE LAST 400 YEARS.

AN ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF 0.4% IN SOIL CARBON, OR 4% PER YEAR, COULD STABILIZE CARBON EMISSIONS FROM ALL SOURCES.

FRENCH PROGRAM OF 4 PER 1000, PARIS COP,2015

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Since photosynthesis and tillage are lead actors in climate change, we felt that we could make a difference by reducing tillage and increasing photosynthesis. But, we didn’t really know how to reduce Tillage!

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We studied Elaine Ingham’s videos and Walter Jehne’s lectures and found that tillage was rapidly accelerating the breakdown of organic matter and: Increasing erosion rates Reducing Nutrient holding capacity Increasing emissions of CO2 and other GHGs Destroying the soil food web Fracturing soil aggregates Damaging the soil water sponge

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On our farm we estimated that we were off-gassing about 40% of our carbon each year from Tillage

CARBON LOSS PER TILLAGE OPERATION KG C (CEQ) EMISSIONS PER ACRE MOLDBOARD PLOW. 6.3 CHISEL HARROW 3.3 HEAVY TANDEM DISK 3.5 STANDARD DISK 2.4 SUBSOILING 4.7 FIELD CULTIVATION 1.6 ROTARY HOE 0.83 DATA IS FROM RATTAN LAL, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

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Vern Grubinger NE SARE Dir., prompted us to begin experimenting with no-till in 2012. The horse farming Nordels from Pennsylvania – introduced us to their no-till system. We farmed some ground with Belgian horses & we tried to duplicate the Nordel’s success.

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Our First experiments with Horse and Tractor no-till Total Failures! PROBLE LEMS AND SOLUTIO IONS NS

NOT DENSE ENOUGH MULCH COVER
NOT APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB
WE NEEDED NO-TILL TRANSPLANTERS AND SEEDERS FOR OUR

SCALE OF FARMING—60 ACRES.

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Challenges: Mulch Cover Failure in 2013: 110#s Rye

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Change is hard!

After such failures we argued constantly about changing to no-till. And, it was difficult! Some of our local farmer colleagues also argued passionately for and against

rganic no-till

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IN 2015, WE VISITED A NO-TILL FARM IN COSTA RICA THAT USED KOREAN NATURAL FARMING STRATEGIES. WE STUDIED THEIR TECHNIQUES, AND VISITED RODALE AND OTHER FARMS USING NO-TILL SYSTEMS. WE BECAME CONVINCED WE HAD TO CHANGE!

IT WAS NOT THAT WE WERE FARMING BADLY, WE JUST FELT THAT WE COULD IMPROVE!

WE FORMED A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN 2016, TO:

EVALUATE OUR WHOLE-FARM SOIL/NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
PRIORITIZE OUR COMMITMENT TO NO-TILL AND MINIMUM-TILL RESEARCH
HAVE A MANAGER DEDICATED TO R&D PROJECTS
STUDY KOREAN NATURAL FARMING SYSTEMS

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After 6 years of research trials, and some success, we decided In 2018 to begin converting the farm to no-till and minimum-till. We now have 9.5 acres converted to

r in a conversion program to no-till

and minimum-till

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PHASE 1
Weed Suppression (smother crop) and soil

nutrient balance

PHASE 2
Rebuilding the Nutrient Cycle: Brazilian cover

crops, Korean Natural Farming preps

PHASE 3
Cash Crop Production: Brazilian cover crops,

Korean Natural farming to fit nutritive cycle

“Current” No-Till Transition Phases

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WEED SUPPRESSION AND SOIL NUTRIENT BALANCE

Smother crops 200#s Winter Rye, year 1, Solarize after roller-crimping
We often add legumes in 1st smother mix.
Soil Nutrient Balance to enhance CEC
Plant Brazilian nutrient mixes after solarizing, take two cuttings or make

two plantings (Spring/Summer). Plant 130# Winter Rye in mid-September

Korean Natural Farming preps on smother and nutrient crops
Switching to permanent beds and minimum-till for small seed crops

Phase 1

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The University of Vermont and Dr. Bronner’s helped us upgrade our equipment. 7 years ago, UVM donated a community-shared roller crimper. We adapted it so we could roller-crimp with a front mount and plant right behind.

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Phase 1: Cover Crop Crimping/Planting. Crimper—UVM. No-till grain drill—Dr. Bronner’s. Community-shared equipment.

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Roller crimping at 70% pollen.

(200#s winter rye)

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After roller

crimping ½ one direction, ½ in other direction. Always plant in direction of crimp.

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Mulch Cover with perennial weeds 2 weeks after roller-crimping

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Solarize Weeds: in rare cases we used black plastic on difficult weeds. Cooler under the plastic for 2 or 3 days than when soil is exposed to sun, so we are not damaging soil microorganisms.

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Planting: 2nd Year smother, 130#s Rye on weed free 1st year smother

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REBUILDING THE NUTRIENT CYCLE: MICROORGANISM FARMING

INCREASING THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF SOIL MICROORGANISMS
PROTECTING AND FURTHER SOLIDIFYING SOIL AGGREGATES &

ENHANCING THE SOIL WATER SPONGE BY NO OR MINIMUM TILLAGE

GRADUAL INCREASE IN SOIL ORGANIC MATTER VERSUS ROLLERCOASTER
INTER-SEEDING BRAZILIAN COVERS, USE OF MICROBIAL-RICH COMPOSTS,

TEAS, AND KNF PREPS Phase 2

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Phase 2: Collecting Indigenous Microorganisms & making KNF preps and/or buying Effective Microorganisms for composts and teas.

Contacts: Chris Trump, Natural Farming Co., Michael Phillips, herbal apple Guru, NH.

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Phase 2: Gabe Brown/Brazilian Cover Crop Mixes:

Berseem Clover, Crimson Clover, CowPeas, Sudangrass, Pearl Millet, Diakon Radish, Flax, Sunflower, Phacelia and Buckwheat. Seed Rate 30lbs/Acre—Contacts: Roland Bunch, Ademir Calegari, Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta, Green Cover Seed

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Phase 3: Gabe Brown /Brazilian covers inter-seeded with cash crops

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that Dr. Bronner’s bought – turned it

into two planters

Phase 3: Planting: RJ No-Till rotary plug transplanters, Dr. Bronner’s. Community-

shared transplanter. Plants Veg. and fruit plugs: corn, melons, squash, strawberries, kale, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, okra, chard, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc.

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1st Year Planting:

Mulch layer importance.

Planted kale and broccoli on the other sPlanted kale

and broccoli on the other side of field

Notice the weed pressure – even on bare mulch

ground – none!

Planting window from June to November, once mulch

layer is built

et us plant three crops with no weed pressure
ide of field
Notice the weed pressure – even on bare mulch