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Farming can be a really lucrative trade with the right crops, but it can be tough to get your foot in the door at first. Before you can get harvesting, you’ll need lots of healthy soil to nourish your future plants. Preparing your land is time-consuming but not difficult, as long as you review a few simple tips and tricks.
Steps
Question 2 of 8:
How do I test the soil pH?
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Pick up a soil testing box from your local government. At-home soil tests can give you a rough idea of what your soil looks like, but they aren’t super thorough. When you’re first getting your land ready, it’s best to send your soil to a lab, like a local university. [4] X Trustworthy Source University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities Go to source Visit your local cooperative extension office and pick up a soil sample box, along with any necessary forms. [5] X Research source
- If you don’t live near a university or cooperative extension office, check online to see what soil testing labs or businesses are near you.
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Collect samples with a stainless steel soil coring tool. Dig several 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) holes around 6-8 spots on your farm land. Collect the soil with your soil coring tool, and combine these soil samples in the collection box. Fill the box up to the required fill line, so the lab has enough soil to test. [6] X Research source
- If you don’t have a soil coring tool, you can use a shovel instead.
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Send the samples to a testing lab. Seal your collection box and mark the side with your name and address, along with a random 5-digit number—this will help the soil testing lab identify your sample. Drop your soil off at the lab, and wait a few days or weeks for your results. [7] X Research source
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Question 3 of 8:
How do I adjust my soil’s pH?
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Spread lime or wood ash over your soil to raise the pH . Fill a fertilizer spreader with granular or pellet lime, and mix it into the surface of your moist soil. Scatter the lime about 2-3 months before you plan on planting your crops, which gives your soil enough time to balance out. [8] X Research source Consult the results of your soil test to see how much lime you need to use for this. [9] X Research source
- If the lime is really finely ground, it’ll soak into the soil more quickly. [10] X Research source
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Lower your soil pH with aluminum sulfate. Spread aluminum sulfate over the surface of the soil, and mix it in. [11] X Research source The amount you use depends on the exact pH you’re aiming for—for instance, to bring the soil to a 6.5 pH, you’ll need 1.8 lb (0.82 kg) of aluminum sulfate for every 10 sq ft (0.93 m 2 ) of farmland. [12] X Research source
- The exact measurements depend on the desired pH you want for your land. You can find an exact pH table here: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil .
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Question 4 of 8:
How do I prepare the field?
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Till the land by digging up 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) of moist topsoil. Grab a garden spade and scoop up at least 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) of soil, which will help your crops grow deeper roots. Then, flip the scoop of soil over, and repeat the process. You can also accomplish this with tools that aren’t so labor-intensive, like a rototiller—what matters most is that you’re lifting and loosening the soil before you start farming. [13] X Research source
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Create a canal system in the soil. If you’re using hand tools, scoop or rake the tilled soil into raised “beds,” which are about 8 to 10 in (20 to 25 cm) above the land and 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) wide. Space the raised beds 36 in (91 cm) apart—your crops will grow on top of these beds, and the water will drain into the canals between each bed. [14] X Research source
- Try to make these beds as straight as possible, especially if you’re working with a large plot of land.
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Question 5 of 8:
What type of fertilizer should I use?
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Pick a balanced fertilizer to nourish your crops. Pick up a 10-10-10 or 4-3-3 fertilizer, which will keep your crops well-balanced and nurtured throughout the growing season. Don’t apply all of the fertilizer at once—instead mix half of it into the top 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of soil before you actually plant the crops. Then, add the rest of the fertilizer about halfway through the farming season. [15] X Research source
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Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer if you plan on applying an herbicide. Pick up 46-0-0 fertilizer and spread it over the land about a month before you use the herbicide. You don’t have to do this, but it will make it a lot easier to kill off unwanted weeds and vegetation on your land. [16] X Research source
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Question 7 of 8:
How do I plant my crops?
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Measure the soil temperature to make sure it’s good to go. Different crops thrive in different soil temperatures—before you start planting, check the soil temperature with a soil thermometer first. [19] X Research source Some crops, like peas, onions, and leaf lettuce, need to be planted in soil that’s 35 to 40 °F (2 to 4 °C). [20] X Research source Other crops, like corn, need to be planted in 50 °F (10 °C) soil. [21] X Research source
- You can download a custom planting schedule for your crops here: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar .
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Use a standard planter to get the job done. Adjust your planter so it scatters the seeds about 2 in (5.1 cm) into the soil. Drive your planter through the field to scatter your seed—every few hours, hop out of the equipment to make sure the planter is working properly, and your fields are being seeded adequately. [22] X Research source
- Your planter settings really depend on the seeds you’re working with. For instance, if you’re planting corn, you’ll want to sow 33,000 to 38,000 seeds for every acre (4047 square meters). Talk to your seed salesperson for more crop-specific advice.
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Question 8 of 8:
Do I need farm equipment to get the land ready?
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You don’t technically need it, but it can save you a lot of time. You can use a garden spade to till the soil. [23] X Research source If you’re working with land that’s larger than ½ acre (2024 square meters), plow the land with tractor-drawn equipment instead. If your land is really stony, transport the rocks with a wagon or sledge, or use a hydraulic bucket to get rid of any boulders. To scatter lime, fertilizer, and manure, use a tractor-drawn “cone-type” spreader. [24] X Research source
- For reference, equipment like moldboards and chisel plows are used to till the land.
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Reach out to the government if you can’t afford large equipment. In some countries, the government will offer financial assistance so you can afford the large-scale equipment that you need. Contact the agricultural branch of your government and see what kinds of options are available. [25] X Research source
- For instance, if you live in the US, you can check this site for different funding opportunities: https://www.farmers.gov/fund .
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Tips
- It helps to research your land a bit before you start preparing it for farming. Try to find out if the land ever flooded, or if anything was ever grown there before—this can give you some really helpful insights when you’re planning things out. [26] X Research sourceThanks
- Rice fields are treated a little differently than typical land. For this type of farm land, you’ll need to eliminate the weeds with glyphosate and leave a lot of standing water in the area. Rice plants do very well in wet conditions. [27] X Research sourceThanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about gardening, check out our in-depth interview with Don Tipping .
References
- ↑ https://extension.unh.edu/resource/preparing-vegetable-garden-site
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EsochGgRPmE&t=1m10s
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanAg/files/264076.pdf
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/a-gardeners-guide-to-soil-testing
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/a-gardeners-guide-to-soil-testing
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/a-gardeners-guide-to-soil-testing
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/soil-acidity-and-liming-basic-information-for-farmers-and-gardeners
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/
- ↑ https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/reducing-soil-ph/
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/changing-the-ph-of-your-soil/
- ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/soil-preparation/
- ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/soil-preparation/
- ↑ https://extension.unh.edu/resource/preparing-vegetable-garden-site
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/prepping_an_old_neglected_field_for_crop_production_part_2_of_2
- ↑ https://extension.unh.edu/resource/preparing-vegetable-garden-site
- ↑ https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/irrigation-methods-a-quick-look?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
- ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/how-to-measure-soil-temperature-for-planting/
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/determine_soil_temperatures_before_planting_vegetables_for_improved_results
- ↑ https://www.agriculture.com/crops/corn/farming-101-how-to-plant-corn
- ↑ https://www.agriculture.com/crops/corn/farming-101-how-to-plant-corn
- ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/soil-preparation/
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/prepping_an_old_neglected_field_for_crop_production_part_1_of_2
- ↑ https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/growing-farmersgov/ask-expert-new-farming-because-pandemic-qa-anne-stephens
- ↑ https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/growing-farmersgov/ask-expert-new-farming-because-pandemic-qa-anne-stephens
- ↑ http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/step-by-step-production/pre-planting/land-preparation#plant-cover-crops
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