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VEGETABLE PLANTING
THE
NO-TILL WAY
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SAVES TIME
REDUCES COSTS
IMPROVES SOIL
CLEANER PRODUCE
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A Proven Technology
The value of no-till transplanting has been demonstrated throughout the
United States. Here in Pennsylvania, no-till transplanting has been done on the
sloping stony fields of Lackawanna County, at the Research Plots at Penn State
University and Steve Groff’s Cedar Meadow Farm in Lancaster County. The
results have shown the no-till transplanting of vegetables to be highly
successful.
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Yields were as good or better when compared to conventional
tillage |
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Harvesting conditions improved |
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Soil erosion reduced – even in fields with traditional
conservation practices |
To help encourage the use of this new agricultural technology, the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Resource Conservation and Development Council has
purchased a three row No-till Transplanters and are making them available to local
farmers.
Funding For The No-Till Transplanter Project Is Provided Through Generous
Grants from:
| PA Dept. of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Grant Center |
| USDA |
| Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Private Foundation |
The No-Till Transplanters
| Red |
The RJV 600 No-Till planter has an upright, high clearance design, capable of
cutting through and successfully planting in heavy crop residues and sod with
minimal soil disturbance with its heavy duty no-till coulter assembly. The
transplanter is equipped with a double water shoe, six-cup carousel with deep
cups for taller plants, ground drive wheel, and two-side tray holder. It has a
three point hitch frame with a 150 gallon tank for water or liquid fertilizer.
This No-Till planter is equipped with easily interchangeable size 50, 72, or 128
shoes. A 40-50 horsepower tractor is needed to pull the transplanter.
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| Green |
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| horse drawn |
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Benefits of No-Till Vegetable
Transplanting:
Lowers production costs, Cleaner fruit and vegetables, Eliminates plowing,
disking, & cultivating, Reduces soil compaction, Promotes moisture
conservation, Controls soil erosion, Improves soil tilth, Reduces insect and
disease problems, Improves harvesting conditions, Increases organic matter
Without Sacrificing: Yield ~ Quality ~ Maturity ~
Size
Recommended Planting Conditions
| Clean up persistent weed problems year prior to using no-till transplanter.
Contact Extension Service or Chemical Dealer for recommendations |
| Plant in cover crop, sod, and small grain stubble. Do not mow field |
| Establish cover crop of rye and/or hairy vetch in fall |
| Use cultipacker to flatten cover crop. Plant in direction cover crop is
laying |
| Use round cell transplants |
| Use no-till transplanter after soil is warm (approximately May 20th) |
| Use in adequate soil moisture conditions |
| Use a tractor with a hydraulic arm |
Try the No-Till Transplanter!
The No-Till Transplanter is available at $100 per use in the following counties:
Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton.
Arrangements for using the No-Till Transplanter can be made by calling:
Sam High, NRCS Chester County, 610-696-0398 Ext. 104
SEPA RC&D Council, 215-453-9527 ext 5, Fax: 215-257-6345, Email: chairman@separcd.org
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