SOIL ANTICRUSTANTS

The success of fluid drilling and direct sowing of small seeded vegetables has been limited in the Northeast United States largely due to soil crusting (capping). Crusting can result in incomplete to poor stands of seeded vegetables, especially under less than optimum conditions which increases emergence time.
Crusting can be defined as the process by which a surface layer of soil becomes more compact than the material immediately below it.
Since mechanical preparation of the seed bed and soil organic matter determine the initial aggregate size mixture, the application of anticrustants does not improve soil structure, but preserves the existing surface condition.
Characteristics used to evaluate anticrustant materials included: effectiveness, cost, ease of handling and application and corrosiveness.
Solid materials such as vermiculite, perlite and crushed corn cobs have been used as anticrustants in the past.
Application of these materials have been difficult at times, depending on environmental conditions.
Use of Natrasol and Phosphoric Acid has improved the emergence and growth of several vegetable crops and have been relatively easy to apply with existing equipment.

Symposium on the Timing of Field Production of Vegetables

M.D. Orzolek

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1987.198.18