Odd cultivation method in fallow fields
November 28, 2014 5:12 PM Subscribe
I live in an area with a lot of agriculture. Being late November, most of the crops have been harvested, and the soil has been cultivated to prepare for the next planting. In most of the fallow fields this means that they've made long, raised rows. In some of the fields, though, the soil has been formed into perfectly spaced hillocks about one foot tall. 1) Why? 2) What kind of farm implement makes these mounds?
If it matters, most of what's grown around here is tomatoes, corn, and sunflowers. I'm not aware of any winter crop that's harvested -- I think they mostly plant cover crops.
These mounds seem to have a very specific purpose since they're so different from every other plot of land with long rows. I saw them first about a month ago, and the first fields I saw are still bare soil, so I don't think anything's been planted in any of them yet.
We're about to get a week of rain, so my third question is 3) aren't the hills going to erode away, and if they were prepared for a certain crop, doesn't that defeat the point of hilling the soil to begin with?
Please solve agricultural mystery, thank you.
If it matters, most of what's grown around here is tomatoes, corn, and sunflowers. I'm not aware of any winter crop that's harvested -- I think they mostly plant cover crops.
These mounds seem to have a very specific purpose since they're so different from every other plot of land with long rows. I saw them first about a month ago, and the first fields I saw are still bare soil, so I don't think anything's been planted in any of them yet.
We're about to get a week of rain, so my third question is 3) aren't the hills going to erode away, and if they were prepared for a certain crop, doesn't that defeat the point of hilling the soil to begin with?
Please solve agricultural mystery, thank you.
It's not producing the same kind of mounds the OP showed, but anyway, here's the fixed link from poxandplague's comment above.
posted by intermod at 10:14 PM on November 28, 2014
posted by intermod at 10:14 PM on November 28, 2014
Based on reading Michael Pollan, my hunch is potatoes, because the hill-method of commercial potato growth was very different from my flat-in-the-ground planting as a kid. We did slice through a few when harvesting, though.
posted by childofTethys at 6:23 AM on November 29, 2014
posted by childofTethys at 6:23 AM on November 29, 2014
Response by poster: Yeah, not potatoes. I know well how they grow, but there's no potato farming around here. And the rotary hiller looks to be the machine used to make the rows in all of the other fields.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:14 AM on November 29, 2014
posted by mudpuppie at 9:14 AM on November 29, 2014
To my eye, it looks more like the hillocks are just a byproduct of cultivation followed by rolling. My hypothesis is that the field was cultivated, planted to a cover crop, and rolled. Why was it rolled in two directions, and why did the roller intentionally miss some spots? I don't know. Maybe economy? Maybe the rolled areas will give sufficient coverage with good germination?
I hope the definitive answer turns up, my curiosity is piqued.
posted by bricoleur at 1:19 PM on November 29, 2014
I hope the definitive answer turns up, my curiosity is piqued.
posted by bricoleur at 1:19 PM on November 29, 2014
Seconding piqued curiosity here.
Can't imagine why the field would be left that way.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:36 PM on November 29, 2014
Can't imagine why the field would be left that way.
posted by BlueHorse at 3:36 PM on November 29, 2014
Why are you asking us? If there are farmers, there's a place where farmers hang out. Go there and ask them.
posted by dogrose at 3:45 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by dogrose at 3:45 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Why was it rolled in two directions, and why did the roller intentionally miss some spots?
I don't think that's what happened, though. The pattern is far too regular, to the point of being exact.
Why are you asking us? If there are farmers, there's a place where farmers hang out. Go there and ask them.
You seem to think I live in Hooterville and that there's a General Store on the town square. That is not the case.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:54 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't think that's what happened, though. The pattern is far too regular, to the point of being exact.
Why are you asking us? If there are farmers, there's a place where farmers hang out. Go there and ask them.
You seem to think I live in Hooterville and that there's a General Store on the town square. That is not the case.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:54 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
pumpkins and watermelons in home gardens are grown on raised mounds with lots of room between them. don't know where you are or if that home gardening method would translate to giant commercial farms.
posted by miss patrish at 7:42 PM on November 29, 2014
posted by miss patrish at 7:42 PM on November 29, 2014
I asked my brother who is studying Soil Science at the University of Idaho and he said: "I do not know, probably alien technology
I have never seen those mounds before. The only thing I can guess is that they are amending the field/soil with something and the mounds are part of the incorporation process."
I was so hopeful that I would have the definitive answer.
posted by Kale Slayer at 10:06 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have never seen those mounds before. The only thing I can guess is that they are amending the field/soil with something and the mounds are part of the incorporation process."
I was so hopeful that I would have the definitive answer.
posted by Kale Slayer at 10:06 PM on November 29, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Perhaps they're converting to orchard? I often see long berms for tree crops, but maybe a new method of growing or harvesting is going on.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:55 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by oneirodynia at 3:55 PM on November 30, 2014
Best answer: Similar photo here if you scroll down. Preparation for a nut orchard.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:45 PM on November 30, 2014
posted by oneirodynia at 4:45 PM on November 30, 2014
Response by poster: Update: I didn't see your answer until now, oneirodynia, but you're correct. A woman I work with knows some farmers who live around there, and they confirmed that it will most likely be an almond orchard. Mystery solved!
posted by mudpuppie at 8:23 AM on December 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by mudpuppie at 8:23 AM on December 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by poxandplague at 9:59 PM on November 28, 2014