Soils loosening

Steel, unless adequately protected with a film of oil subsequent to rolling mill operations, has a tendency to form surface rust rather quickly. This rust on the surface of the metal prevents proper conversion coating. A traditional method of removing rust is an acid applied by power spray equipment. The spraying action cleans both by physical impingement and the etching action of the acid. The power spray action is followed by a brush scrub, which further removes soil loosened by the acid. The brush scrub is followed by a strong alkaline spray wash, which removes all traces of the acid and neutralizes the surface.1-5... 

Current soil injection equipment owes much to the development of narrow tines for injecting anhydrous ammonia and to improvements in soil loosening equipment (6, 7, 8). Ammonia injection causes little soil disturbance and is adequate for incorporating volumes of only 1.0 to 2.5m3/ha but the amounts of slurry which are normally applied are up to 100 times greater and much greater soil disturbance is required to ensure complete incorporation. 

Injection tines perform a soil loosening function as this is the necessary action to create the voids to absorb slurry. The extent of loosening depends on soil conditions and the design of the injector. 

Soil injection of farm slurries and sewage sludges eliminates the odour and visual problem associated with surface spreading, it can control surface run-off and help prevent watercourse pollution. It can avoid crop taint and pathogen transfer on pastures and can provide soil loosening with better nutrient management. 

The presence of abundant humus in a soil loosens the soil and lengthens the time when clay soils can be plowed satisfactorily. This is especially in evidence in garden soils where... 

Other implements which may be rrsed include the Shakaerator which has five strong tines which are made to vibrate in the ground by a mechanism driven from the tractor. Modified rotary cultivators with fixed tines attached can also be described as soil looseners. 

Bronze disease generally appears first in the form of bulky, bright blue-green, powdery spots that disfigure the surface of objects made from the alloy. The spots are quite easy to loosen and remove, but even after they have been removed, when the objects are exposed to the environment, the process continues and the spots recur in a short time. The spots are formed wherever copper atoms in the bronze react with chloride anions from salts in the soil and/or in groundwater. In dry places the growth... 

SPOOR, G and GODWIN, R J. (1978). An experimental investigation into the deep loosening of soil by rigid tines. J Agric Engng Res. 23, 243-258. 

Clay pots sunk between lettuces center left) have been given lids to reduce evaporation this is a traditional method known as "pitcher irrigation." Always direct water at the soil around the plant, either with a hose or spray near left), or by filling reservoirs sunk into the soil, such as porous clay pots, open lengths of pipe, or plastic bottles upended with the lids loosened. 

Forking out For weeds such as Canada thistle, loosen the soil all around the root area in order to pull out the entire root run. 

Weeds with a network of spreading, creeping roots such as creeping thistle, bindweed, and quackgrass need to have the soil around their roots well loosened so that every piece of root can be removed. 

On a no-dig plot, weeds are drastically reduced as dormant seeds are not brought to the surface by the soil s being turned over. A mulch further reduces weed numbers, but is not essential. Light hoeing is effective on bare soil and gradually depletes the reserve of weed seeds. Loosen any perennial weeds with a fork and lift them out, disturbing the soil as little as possible. 

You may be able to simply pull root crops out of the ground. If not, use a fork to loosen them gently, causing minimal disruption to the soil. As when planting, some soil disturbance is inevitable, but this is minimal compared with that caused by digging. 

In the first year, potato tubers and young plants of brassicas, zucchini, and pumpkins can be planted through the mulch into the soil, in pockets loosened with a trowel mix in some compost if available. Initially, plants may need more frost protection than usual, as the mulch cuts off some of the warmth of the sun, making the soil radiate back less heat at night. Cover plants with horticultural fleece alternatively, plant a little later in the year. 

Apply once daily (or more frequently if the dressing becomes soiled, as from incontinence). When clinically indicated, crosshatching thick eschar with a No. 10 blade allows collagenase more surface contact with necrotic debris. It also is more desirable to remove, with forceps and scissors, as much loosened detritus as can be done readily. 

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