Aeration
Aeration is an under-rated cultivation method, but it is an alternative to sowing out again those paddocks which are not due to be taken out of rotation that are not performing. This can be caused by compaction of wet paddocks from heavy vehicles and stock trampling the earth in wet conditions as experienced this spring. Patches of grass become yellow and water tends to pool in areas and pastures do not produce the amount of growth that is expected
The benefits of aeration are it allows water to drain away and it releases nutrients that have been trapped in the heavily compacted soil to promote pasture growth by fracturing the upper soil levels. This promotes worm activity and promotes grass growth above and below the ground as it encourages roots to grow which is an advantage in those drier seasons when shallow rooted pastures tend to dry off more quickly.
