Plot Comments Very narrow and high pressure tire on the sprayer combined with a heavy load means increase stress at all depths. The D9_justtractor_1 plot shows the tractor driving over the sensor and backing up over the sensor again to avoid the sprayer damaging the measurement equipment. The middle peaks on the plot are the rear tire […]
Plot Comments This is a much light tractor but has significantly high tire pressures. The tire are also have a round contact profile. The higher stress at 6 inches is an effect of the high tire pressure. Lower stress at depth compared to other heavier tractors is due to the much lower weight. […]
Plot Comments The first plot D7_1 is the outer dual. This tire would not be carrying an equal load as the inside dual is inflated more. The inner dual show a higher stress under the front tire which would be expected dual to the much higher tire pressure. […]
Plot Comments This is a lighter tractor than the others tested. Slightly lower stress even with narrower tires. D6_D28_4 only the left two peaks are the tractor. The _4 sensor location had significantly more moisture in the top 12 inches with would explain the higher stresses in the top two sensors at this location. […]
Plot Comments Similar stress at depth compared to D4, The higher pressure tires compared to D4 mean a higher stress at 6 inch depth. This was the stress under the outer dual. It would be expected that stress under the inner duals would be higher as they have higher pressure and would carry more of […]
Plot Comments Even with the large tires on this tractor, then total weight is still causing stress at depth. Stress at the surface is significantly lower than would be expected with a narrower tire at higher pressure. […]
Plot Comments This buggy is heavy, higher stress in the lower depths when compared to light equipment. The variation in the green curve on both plots may be due to lug spacing and roller contact. […]
Plot Comments Similar results to D1 and D2, this unit we tested the distribution underneath the track. The sensor was align under the outer lug, inner lug and down the center of the track. The center of the track had slightly lower stress since there was no direct contact to the rollers. Also notice how only […]
Plot Comments D2_3, D2_L_3 This Unit was tested at the _3 installation. This is a wheel tractor, comparable stress at depth effect compared to D1 as even accounting for lighter axle weight. […]
Plot Comments This is a curved bottom track Notice how there are only 3 peaks on each curve, corresponding to the small rollers on each track unit. The hard ground conditions meant the track was not bearing on the entire surface. The deeper pressures are a concern with this amount of weight […]
Planting The March 2018 planting intentions report by Statistics Canada estimated Ontario farmers intended to plant 2.2 million acres of grain corn, comparing to a 5-year (2013-2017) average of 2.1 million acres (OMAFRA Crop Statistics). A cool April coupled with snow and freezing rain events through to the middle of the month limited early field […]
Go here for the updated version of this article. Cereal rye has several strengths as a cover crop option. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to kill. Rye improves soil structure, builds organic matter and helps protect against water and wind erosion. It also competes with weeds, as Mike Cowbrough has written here (see Figure 1). […]
Summary The saying in cropping “rain makes grain” was certainly true for soybeans in 2018. Above average rainfall in late July and August resulted in the highest provincial yields on record. What makes this achievement especially impressive is that much of May, June, and even the first half of July were very dry. At the […]
Did you know that OMAFRA has a handbook that’s all about nutrients and soil fertility? It’s called the Soil Fertility Handbook and was first published in 1998. The book covers topics such as soil testing, soil pH and lime and fertilizer application. There’s a chapter on organic nutrient sources, like manure, biosolids and cover crops, […]
Fall 2017 Planting Planting conditions started off well and continued through to mid-October with little disruption. Rainfall around Thanksgiving weekend halted soybean harvest and subsequently winter wheat planting but once conditions dried up planting continued through to November. Approximately 906,000 acres of winter wheat were seeded which is slightly down from the previous year’s 910,000 […]