This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline Plow Frame Extension
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

Part 1 : Introduction

Employing the methods developed by P.A. Yeomans, keyline pattern plowing is a proven component in the job of revitalizing degraded soils. The plow performs deep ripping with minimal plant disturbance. At its most basic this offers many benefits, including opening compacted soils (without destructive tillage), breaking up the hard pan, allowing moisture and oxygen to re-activate soil life, thus restoring fertility.  When used in concert with controlled grazing or mowing through a managed cycle, top soil is built rapidly. 

In the related field of soil biology, Dr Elaine Ingham (the eminent biologist) has made breakthrough discoveries studying soil life and developing methods of brewing compost tea. Her work promotes the pressing need to re-populate our damaged soils with the necessary microbial biota. Without the essential micro organisms our soils cannot develop balance. A balanced soil offers fertility, that builds through the exchange for nutrients that is the tireless work of soil life. A multitude of symbiotic connections evolved in harmony.

With the generous support of the well respected compost tea educator and biological farming consultant, Paul Taylor (Trust Nature), I am developing a means to both inject compost tea into the root zone of pasture plants driectly, and perform a foliar (plant leaf) application while keyline plowing. The potential for this method to restore health and balance to soils is explosive.

I will therefore post a series of articles on taranakifarm.com detailing my development of this system so that others may be inspired to explore this exciting system (and perhaps make improvements).

Next : Designing the Keyline Plow Frame Extension.

This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline Plow Frame Extension
Part 3 : 1:1 Wooden Scale Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

Making Progress

I believe I’ve solved the tank (and equipment) frame extension question. The photos below mostly speak for themselves, although I’ll elaborate for the enthusiastic.

We made up a simple frame extension of welded steel box section that will form a platform for mounting the compost tea tank. In the photo below, you’ll notice I’m supporting the frame extension with timber, which obviously won’t do. So, next I’ll weld plate steel “L” brackets onto the extension where it meets the upper beam of the original keyline plow frame (positions A & B below). Then drill bolt holes so I can employ “L” shaped bolts. The same kind those used on the plow. I like standards and it makes everything multi-use, opening the door for more creative ideas.

Bolting onto the upper beam will support the extension, although it will not hold any significant weight. To solve this problem I will do the following.

Because the keyline frame is essentially a tool bar allowing great variation, it is essential to consider this variation when designing additions. To create a decent sized platform, my frame extension extends beyond the depth of the original frame, so it will require diagonal plate steel supports to bare weight. These will bolt to both the lower keyline beam and the new extension. This will give the extension support from below, as I intend to apply considerable weight to the platform above. As such I’ll need to make up at least two, maybe three supports.

A profile illustration of these supports is pictured left. To maintain a thin profile and not consume too much space on the rear keyline tool bar, I’ll most likely opt for plate steel. I must cut triangles out of each end of the plate piece to match the new frame extension and also the keyline plow. To sure this up, again, “L” constructs to bolt on.

These supports are then completely adjustable, which allows me to relocated the shanks and coulter beams without worrying about ‘permanent’ frame extension supports being in a fixed position. If they are in the way, I can just shift them, left for right. Total freedom. The general position is shown as dotted lines in the image below.

This extension also allows ample clearance beneath the tank platform should I need to access the shanks during plowing to change over a shear pin etc.

Next : 1:1 Woodend Scale Model

This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline plow frame extension.
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

1:1 Wooden Scale Model

Today I developed a 1:1 scale model of the platform supports. This allowed me to consider the design in more depth and get a feel for where the pressure points are. I constructed the model from cypress which obviously is much easier to work than box section or plate steel. I’ve established exact dimensions so constructing the steel version only involves cutting each ‘part’ of the assembly, then welding it together. All position issues, levels etc. are correct. No painful mistakes.

My only regret thus far, is employing non-standard box section steel for the frame extension. In the keyline plow, there are three sizes of box section employed. The main frame is constructed from 100×100mm RHS (Rolled Hollow Section). This is a very strong steel product. One that allows the frame to withstand extreme pressures during plowing. The coulter beams, which don’t experience the same stresses, are build from 75×75mm box section. Finally a smaller kind again is employed in the coulter assemblies themselves - the 50×50mm variety.

Since the frame extension was made up for a purpose other than its current application, I opted for 90×90mm. I briefly considered a ’sleeved’ design. Involving reversed coulter with a ’sleeve’ of 90×90mm over the 75×75mm. The intent - to create an extended rear platform. But the forces at play made me abandon it. If I had opted for 100×100, the platform supports would be fully reversible. A regrettable oversight.

For the supports, I’m using the same box section as the coulter beams. 75×75mm. Never to later to correct the course. I’m pleased with this design and look forward to creating the final steel versions.

Update

The steel brackets are now complete and working exactly as intended, with strength to spare. I anticipated a measure of ’spring’ based on the design, but this doesn’t seem evident. They are extremely robust, and very straightforward to construct.

Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank

This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline plow frame extension.
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

Giving Destructive Equipment New Purpose

Compost tea brewing requires the use of specialist equipment. Especially when you intend to apply tea to hectares of paddocks. In my case, I’ll be making tea using a 1000L brewer supplied by Trust Nature Pty Ltd. The brewer tank is a little large to mount on the keyline plow, so an ‘application’ tank is required. This is a smaller tank, fitted with a pump and plumbing necessary for application during keyline plowing.

I’ve opted to retrofit an old herbicide spraying unit, giving it a new life in the plant friendly business. As this tank has been previously used with poison, it is necessary to sterilise it. Otherwise our precious microbes will not survive their journey into the soil. To accomplish this, we dilute a 50% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mix - 5% solution to water. That is, 5 lts of H2O2 solution (50% mix) with 100 lts water. Running through the pump and tank, and then flush with clean water. The unit is now ready for retrofitting.

A few specifications to begin. The tank is a 200L herbicide stray unit, fitted with a small ‘Shurflo’ 12 volt diaphragm pump that is capable of discharging (with open flow) 5.3 lts of tea per minute under 60psi. The existing tubing I have chosen to completely replace, plumbing an entirely new set of lines optimised for the plow. While I’m still in the construction stage, it’s currently impossible to tell whether this pump will have the necessary capacity. Only testing will determine this. It’s a standard kind, and upgrading the pump doesn’t present any issues.

Since the original unit was fitted with only a single hose with trigger gun applicator, I’ve had to reconsider the tubing completely. With seperate tube lines running to each shank and a ground spray line, it is necessary to fit each line with its own flow control tap. This will be necessary to adjust the pressure between secondary lines off the main flow line. Otherwise some tube lines would receive greater flow than others.

For this flow control system, I’ve settled on inexpensive garden variety irrigation valves (available from any hardware store), plumbed on 12mm plastic tubing. One for each keyline plow shank, and another for an above ground foliar spray line. I’ve also plumbed a tank return line for master flow control (should I have too much pressure).

The next stage will involve running a sequence of tests to ‘calibrate’ the flow valves. Once set, they will distribute the correct dose of compost tea for each shank into the soil and over foliage. Setting these taps involves running the unit while timing the output and volume for each tube line. When they all output the same volume in the same time period, the system is calibrated.

Next, I’ll be rigging the shank application boots and ground spray unit. Stay tuned…

Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener

This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline Plow Frame Extension
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

Clarifying our Intent

A wise piece of advice; “garden like a farmer and farm like a gardener”. That’s great, but how does one do this on a practical level?

If you are an organic gardener who tends to a modest 10 x 10 meter vegetable garden and you hear that a little soil inoculum in the form of ‘compost tea’ would do your patch wonders, I’m sure your response would be something along the lines of “what a good idea!, I might just do that…”

But what if you are a farmer with 100 acres of pasture, and you hear the same suggestion?

[ LONG SILENCE ]

One answer to this common silence is now clear. While this method certainly isn’t the only means of ‘farming like a gardener’, it is an invaluable tool in the box. As Paul Taylor says “… [keyline + compost tea] is cutting edge technology that has the potential of being [one of] the most advanced systems to date”.

This is exciting farming and land stewardship. On a personal note, I hope you’re enjoying this series of articles. For this entry, I’ll simply finish with a sequence of photos from my work today…

Healthy Soil : Accept No Substitutes.

Bubbling Away

You’ll might notice the addition of the Yeomans ’seed boots’ which has been employed to deliver the precious soil inoculant. These are steel tubes mounted on each shank tool groove, as seen clearly in the photo below.

This article forms part of a series concerning the development of methods of compost tea application via the keyline plow which are being published on taranakifarm.com

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Designing the Keyline Plow Frame Extension
Part 3 : 1:1 Scale Wooden Model
Part 4 : Re-Inventing the Herbicide Tank
Part 5 : Farm Like a Gardener
Part 6 : The Final Prototype

Direct Injection

The keyline plow / compost tea injection system is now undergoing trials. The plow rig can be seen in the photo below. While I’m already planning several enhancements to this system, I’m very pleased with the current outcome.

Establishing Injection Depth

An important consideration of keyline plowing is present root depth. This can be assessed by simply digging a hole with a shovel. Once we establish the depth of the pasture root systems, we can ‘dial in’ the shank digging depth to penetrate the soil just beneath the current root depth. This progressive deepening of the soil profile over successive treatments is what keyline plowing is all about. Re-activating and converting the subsoil material into fertile topsoil in step with plant growth.

When including compost tea injection in this method, we’re also able ‘dial in’ the shank boot delivery tube to inject compost tea directly into the rhizosphere (even has the shank’s actual digging tip cuts below this zone). The rhizosphere is a ‘narrow region of soil that is directly influenced by root secretions and associated soil microorganisms’ 1.

Re-populating the Soil

In this way, our efforts to re-populate the soil with beneficial organisms are given the best chance at success, since this region of the soil profile is the most active biologically and in terms of nutrient exchange, the most vibrant. Conditions critical for healthy plant growth and the propagation of soil life.

Additionally, by carefully accessing soil conditions and choosing the right time for treatments, our introduced biota are given a superb start in their new enviroment. They quickly establish themselves and set about stablising the ecology of the soil - something that is essential for the soil to function correctly if our expectation is vigorous plant growth.

Thanks for your interest in keyline & compost tea. To view more photos and watch a video of the plow system, please visit the following address :

http://picasaweb.google.com/TaranakiFarm

And feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feedback..