How to repair compacted soil

[quicksandfarmer]

I have an area of about a quarter acre where the soil is heavily compacted. This area used to be good grass pasture, some summers we even mowed it and kept it as lawn. A tenant kept pigs there, and the pigs rooted through the soil and removed every living thing and then packed the soil down with their hooves. The high spots are rock hard and the soil now doesn't drain at all, where there are low spots the water pools and creates a thick goopy mud. There are spots that didn't dry out at all this summer.

The question is what to do about it. The soil needs to have the organic material returned. There's enough mud in there that I don't like to take the tractor in, I think it just makes it worse to chew up the mud. Part of me wants to just dump spoiled hay into the whole area and let nature take its course. Our soil is very acidic and I've read that adding lime helps loosen soil up, so I'm thinking of liming it as well. I'm not keen on the idea of tilling or plowing the area because unless the soil is dry I think it would just compact it more.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[RNeumann]

They are adding lime to soil right in front of my work to help compact the soil under the road. I'd read up before going that route.
Without getting the tractor in there hay on top will do little. Adding sand and tilling would be nice. Organics can be added at the same time- hay, manure etc. Since this isn't the "show" area near the house I'd only shoot for 2-4" of tilling. It isn't a garden that needs a ton of depth. Just enough to germinate seeds.
If you can't till I'd just added sand and manure to level things and see what happens. If nothing grows you can always till it in the next dry season.

 

[jeff9366]

A Moldboard Plow is the traditional implement for "opening" land.

A 12" plow will open land 5" to 7" deep. A 14" plow will open land 6" to 8" deep. A 16" plow will open land 7" to 9" deep.

As you only have 1/4 acre you should do reasonably well breaking up the compaction with a Middle-buster (also known as a Potato Plow) or a Subsoiler.

VIDEOS (2): tractor middle buster - YouTube

tractor subsoiler - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

They are adding lime to soil right in front of my work to help compact the soil under the road. I'd read up before going that route.

Yes, caution advised. Lime is an important constituent of cement.

While you are researching lime for modifying your specific soil conditions also research gypsum.

 

[newbury]

And consider that if you add lime and hay or straw you could be making brick.

 

[joeu235]

If you are concerned about your soil ph, get a soil test done.

Looks like the University of Rhode Island does it for free on October 28th.

Soil pH Testing - University of Rhode Island

 

[Egon]

[video]http://www.graymont.com/sites/default/files/pdf/tech_paper/lime_treated_soil_construction_manual.pdf[/video]

There are different types of lime!

 

[jeff9366]

I know. I live in Florida.

On my land we have Key Limes and Persian Limes. There are probably various 'island' Limes grown farther south.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Adding sand and tilling would be nice.

Yes, adding sand would be good.... if your end goal is concrete.


quicksandfarmer, this isn't complicated. Get the tractor in there with something to break it up. That's what plows and cultivators are for - breaking up hard ground.

Bury it deep in organic matter, and let it winter over. In the spring, plow in the organic matter that's left. Repeat as needed.

I'd use wood chips before I'd use hay or straw, though. Leaves are also good. Grass not so much, unless you shred it together with dry leaves or wood chips so that it doesn't form a mat.

Post an ad on Craigslist or call some local tree companies and you can likely get buried in leaves and wood chips for free. They will be glad to not have to pay the dump fees.

There are no short cuts for this.

 

[RNeumann]

That is laughable!