Manual

Section4: Operation
TillingTips& Techniques
POWERCOMPOSTING
Power composting meanstilling under
and burying in the soil all manner of
organic matter such as crop residues,
leaves,grass clippings and cover crops.
This material will decompose during the
non-growing seasonand add important
natural nutrients to the soil.
After tilling under crop residues, add
more organic matter such as leaves,
grass clippings and even kitchen scraps.
When tilled into the soil, this organic
matter will decompose andadd even
more important nutrients to the soil.
After power composting, you maywant
to plant a "green manure" cover crop to
protect the soil during the off-season.
I. As you move forward into a row of
stalks, aim the tiller so that the stalks go
betweenthe left wheel andthe transmis-
sion case (Figure4-19). Do not use the
right wheel becausedamage could occur
to the air cleaner, carburetor or throttle
linkage.
Whenpower composting,do not keep
the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep
settingif thetiller jumps or bucks.
If jumping or buckingoccurs, move
the Depth Regulator Lever down to
one of the shallower settings and
then slowly increasethe tilling depth
on later passes.
Failure to complycould result in loss
of tiller control, property damage or
personalinjury.
Begin by composting crop residues such
as leftover vines, stalks, stems and
roots. Power compost these crop
residuesas soon as they finish bearing.
The sooner this is done, the better, as
tender green matter is easier to till
under. Usethe deepestdepth regulator
setting possible without causing the
engineto labor or the tiller to jump
ahead.
Standing cornstalks of reasonableheight
can be power composted (Figure 4-20).
Pushing over (but not uprooting) corn-
stalks will often makeit easierfor your
tiller to chop up the stalks. Keepthe
tines clear of excessivetangling by "fish-
tailing" or frequently using reverse.
Makeseveral passes,then return a few
days later to finish off anyremaining
stubble.
Grow a crop of clover, alfalfa,
buckwheat, peas,beans, rye grass,
grain, or kaleand then till it into the soil
prior to the planting season.
Wide-Row Planting
The wide-rowplanting technique is
spreading seedsanywherefrom 10
inchesto 2 feet wide or more. As a
result, you can grow anywherefrom 3 to
4 times (or more) produce in the same
spacethat is normally set asidefor an
areathat has narrow, single rows.
Wide-row planting automatically shades
the ground which keepsweed growth
down and also holds moisture in the
soil. And of course, harvesting is much
easier - everything is right at hand to be
picked. Preparing wide rows is easy --
after you preparethe seedbedand mark
off the rows with string, hand-broadcast
the seeds as if seeding a lawn (not quite
as much as lawn seed). Coverwith soil
andtamp the areafirmly with a hoe.
Tilling Under Corn
After corn is harvested,the stalks should
be tilled into the soil while still green.
Dry plants aremore difficult to till under,
andthe roots break loose too easily.
IMPORTANT: Do not pull the roots out
by hand or cut the stalks before tilling.
Stalks that are firmly anchored by their
roots are much easier for the tines to
Figure 4.20: Tilling under corn
stalks.
2. Eachnew passshould overlap the
previous pass by one-half the width of
the tiller.
3. Till as deeply as possible. Pull the
Depth Regulatorall the way UP and
engagethe lowest notch for deeptilling.
Useeither LOW or HIGHbelt range and
SLOWwheel speedgear position.
Let the tilled-in stalks decompose for a
week or so. Then till in the remaining
residue as deep as possible.
chop, cut, and work under.
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