Pigs do a great job of breaking ground, but it can come at a cost. Compaction can take it’s toll on soil health with the compacted soil forming an impermeable layer which holds water. Standing water makes the soil anaerobic and the wrong kind of bugs start breeding and that is bad for soil health.
We have a patch of algae sat on the surface which is a really attractive shade of green, but it isn’t going to help with the soils fertility when we want to start growing in it.
The answer is to aerate the soil, break through the hardened ‘pan’ and get the soil to start to drain. In time this will dry the soil out and let the natural bacterial balance return.
Ann and I used digging forks and my broadfork to start this process.
Jack from the Haigh Hall pig project told products about a clever radish plant that you can grow on compacted soil and within 5 to 6 weeks is ready to dig in as green manure. He said it’s great for soil compacted by the pigs…
Thanks, I will into that. I don’t suppose you can remember the variety?
No, sorry about that. It may not even have been a radish if i’m honest (!) but sure Hazel could ask Jack if you’re interested.