ProCrop 1999

OPTIONS FOR WET, ABANDONED FIELDS

Wet weather has forced abandonment of many acres across central and eastern North Dakota. These acres will dry too late this year to grow a crop, however, salt accumulation on these acres could hurt future crops if a cover is not established this summer to use some of the subsoil water. Salts accumulate because of high water tables. Salts are harmful to crops because they produce drought in the midst of good moisture conditions. In 60 days a growing crop can use 4-6 inches of soil water and reduce the threat of salt buildup. It is important to check with a local CFSA office to determine what crops could be grown as a cover. A sorghum-sudan mixture would be an ideal cover and water using crop. Seeded at 12.5 lbs/acre, the seeding will destroy weeds through seedbed tillage and will germinate and grow rapidly. Before planting any cover crop, make sure that government requirements are compatible with any plans. Some type of tillage is also needed in the fall so that fields will dry next spring.

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