[Dryland]

Rolling pulse crops so that the combine can use a flex-header when harvesting and not hit rocks or get clumps of dirt stuck in the header.

Since the landroller pulverizes the soil and in the right conditions, quite a bit of topsoil dust can float away on the wind -- is this operation considered "tillage" in a minimum-till system?

Also seems to me that landrolling can 'seal' the surface and if we get a hard-rain -- it can promote run-off instead of infiltration.

 

[flatfoot]

Can I assume you have limited land rolling experiece or maybe your land and or farming practices a roller shouldn't be used.

I roll most everything except canola and if conditions would be presented like you describe!

 

[CRToney]

We don't roll peas unless they are on rocky ground. Lentils get rolled for sure. If you have lots of straw not much dust.

 

[tswanson]

No, land rolling isn't tillage. No, land rolling doesn't pulverize the soil. No, land rolling doesn't cause topsoil to drift away. No, land rolling doesn't seal the surface. After we've rolled a field you can hardly tell it's been done. It's not like it completely flattens out your seed rows.

 

[mauryj]

Well I just finished rolling my lentils the last week and they were all up, didnt worry about it because they are down in the forrow and they don't even get touched when they are only a few inches you just make a big key hole turn at the head land so the roller doesn't back up, that will damage crop!! I would not consider it tillage but it may increase soil erosion! if there is limited trash and it does slow infiltration!

 

[BrianTee]

No it is not tillage.