Most of the farms in the Canadian prairie are fighting every year with early snow and frosts. Late harvests and big differences between days force them to focus mainly on the harvests. But what about the soil treatment? Is it good to leave the soil to fight with plant residues itself? Is it good to leave the top -soil closed during the winter season or not?Bednar research and development continues in the Canadian province with the co-operation of Gerard Bles who is helping on the first developments together with Bednar FMT and a Terraland TN 4000 HD9R in Canada. Terraland technology is based on experience from Bednar’s long term sales and research with the Terraland all over the World. Together with Gerard’s farm knowledge is carrying out the first field test on his own farm.
Situation on the Canadian prairie fields
The soil type is mostly sandy loam with a pH from 6 to 9 and good organic matter up to 6 % or higher. The soil is typically dry powder during the season due to a sandy element, this is the main problem from wind erosion and usually after the harvest at the end of the season. The assumption of soil from Bednar experience is also a problem with hard pan too- this usually happens in sandy soil types where the deep tillage mechanization is on a very low/zero technology level.
The farmers have problems with wet and standing water on the fields this year, (this result is possibly from the hard pan) where the moisture has no chance to drain into the ground. Blocking the soil capillarity is a common aeromechanic problem. Therefore usage of the Terraland soil technology must help, with deep soil compaction, water capillarity, pH homogenization and water “pools”! On top of the fields.
The Terraland TN 4000 HD7R worked on a typical prairie field, it was already covered in snow so the Terraland had a lot to do, whether it could handle stubbles, snow and a non-ripped field. The result from one pass was great. Gerard quote: “Stubble on top, to prevent wind erosion and little dips from the spikes to drain our melting snow in springtime. I had a farmer looking at the Terraland and he is very impressed with it, he said, it is about time that we started to deal with soil compaction. We pretend we do not have this problem, but we do big time “.
Facts from the field test
• Depth 18″. (about 40 to 45 cm deep). • Speed 6.5 km up to 12.5 km/ hour in the same field. • On the Fendt monitor it showed 4 hectare per hour. • Did about 650 acres (250ha) with hardened tips of 40 mm which showed no wear. • It handles heavy residue very well with no blocking. • The Fendt measures 420 cm wide, the optional spike rollers on the back make the dual tracks disappear.
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