New Tillage Radish Breaks Up Compaction

2011 - Volume #BFS, Issue #11, Page #73

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“When Tillage Radish® is planted during the fall as a cover crop, the roots break up soil compaction and leave the soil in a much nicer planting condition the following spring,” says Steve Groff, Holtwood, Penn.
   Groff has been selling “Tillage Radish” seed for six years and says he can hardly keep up with the demand. “The first year I sold seed only in the Mid-Atlantic region, but last year I sold seed in 40 states. Now there is interest in Canada and other countries.”
  The reason the Tillage Radish is so good at breaking up soil compaction is its long tap root, which can reach down to 36 in. It can often eliminate the need for deep rippers and chisel plows. “It’s a biological solution that reduces compaction, saves fuel, and helps the soil,” he says.
  Tillage Radish also offer other benefits, says Groff. “They provide outstanding weed control. They take up left-over nitrogen in the fall and then the following spring the decomposed plants release it back into the soil, reducing nitrogen costs. And they increase water infiltration.”
   On his own farm, Groff has planted field corn, sweet corn, soybeans and wheat into Tillage Radish. But corn seems to respond the best. He says research indicates up to a 40-bu. per acre corn yield increase where Tillage Radish were planted the fall before. “The yield increase may vary, but I’ve never seen a yield decrease,” says Groff.
  The University of Maryland has conducted cover crop test plots on his farm. “We’ve identified the best radishes, with the strongest tap roots to break up subsoil compaction.”
  The biggest limitation to Tillage Radish is they have a short planting window. “They should be planted any time during August or September so the roots will have time to grow deep into the soil before the plants are killed by a several nights in the teens. For corn and soybeans it’s tough to get radishes planted in time for them to grow.” However some farmers are making high-clearance seeders to go through standing corn 4 weeks before harvest in order to get the cover crop planted in a timely fashion. Or they are planting shorter season varieties in order to get them harvested earlier.
  Tillage Radish can be mixed with rye or oats. The rye will lie dormant over the winter and come back to life the following spring. Tillage Radish seeds look like alfalfa seeds. “You want to get them 1/4 or 1/2 in. deep in the ground like you would with alfalfa. Plant up to 1-in. deep to moisture if necessary says Groff. “Any no-till drill can be used to plant them. Or you can broadcast the seeds on top of the crop.” At a planting rate of 8 lbs. per acre, crop yield increases alone usually pay for the seed.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Steve Groff, 679 Hilldale Road, Holtwood, PA 17532 (ph 800-767-9441; info@tillageradish.com; www.tillageradish.com).

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New Tillage Radish Breaks Up Compaction CROPS Miscellaneous “When Tillage Radish® is planted during the fall as a cover crop the roots break up soil compaction and leave the soil in a much nicer planting condition the following spring ” says Steve Groff Holtwood Penn Groff has been selling “Tillage Radish” seed for six years and says he can hardly keep up with the demand “The first year I sold seed only in the Mid-Atlantic region but last year I sold seed in 40 states Now there is interest in Canada and other countries ” The reason the Tillage Radish is so good at breaking up soil compaction is its long tap root which can reach down to 36 in It can often eliminate the need for deep rippers and chisel plows “It’s a biological solution that reduces compaction saves fuel and helps the soil ” he says Tillage Radish also offer other benefits says Groff “They provide outstanding weed control They take up left-over nitrogen in the fall and then the following spring the decomposed plants release it back into the soil reducing nitrogen costs And they increase water infiltration ” On his own farm Groff has planted field corn sweet corn soybeans and wheat into Tillage Radish But corn seems to respond the best He says research indicates up to a 40-bu per acre corn yield increase where Tillage Radish were planted the fall before “The yield increase may vary but I’ve never seen a yield decrease ” says Groff The University of Maryland has conducted cover crop test plots on his farm “We’ve identified the best radishes with the strongest tap roots to break up subsoil compaction ” The biggest limitation to Tillage Radish is they have a short planting window “They should be planted any time during August or September so the roots will have time to grow deep into the soil before the plants are killed by a several nights in the teens For corn and soybeans it’s tough to get radishes planted in time for them to grow ” However some farmers are making high-clearance seeders to go through standing corn 4 weeks before harvest in order to get the cover crop planted in a timely fashion Or they are planting shorter season varieties in order to get them harvested earlier Tillage Radish can be mixed with rye or oats The rye will lie dormant over the winter and come back to life the following spring Tillage Radish seeds look like alfalfa seeds “You want to get them 1/4 or 1/2 in deep in the ground like you would with alfalfa Plant up to 1-in deep to moisture if necessary says Groff “Any no-till drill can be used to plant them Or you can broadcast the seeds on top of the crop ” At a planting rate of 8 lbs per acre crop yield increases alone usually pay for the seed Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Steve Groff 679 Hilldale Road Holtwood PA 17532 ph 800-767-9441; info@tillageradish com; www tillageradish com

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