Below is a progression of a field with Marginal Soil (heavy clay - 6.0 to 6.5Ph) over a couple years. These photos might be helpful if you are considering rotation - this was not a series of perfect plantings - but we learned alot along the way. We discovered Round up corn & Soybeams in 2003 - that made a big difference.


These are all the same field:

2001 - 2nd year corn plot - Cultivated:


2002 corn: - No picture - fair corn - some weeds - we cultivated

2003 corn: - Cultivating could not keep up with Ragweed - (last year corn this plot)



2004 - After 3 years corn - we decided to rotate the field - and reduce the Ragweed seed base - we used Roundup Ready Soybeans



6/2005 - with so much exposed soil due to roundup soybeans the year before - we decided to spray in June - and Broadcast clover in Early July



In September 2005 - the clover was coming in - but it was spotty.


As a result of a thin plot - we rolled & expanded the plot and over seeded it in April 2006.


The plot thickened nicely - and we Mowed it in June 2006 - especially we reduced the annual weeds by mowing(daisy, ragweed, etc) - grasses were very very few.

1 week after mowing - July 9th - Year #2 White Clover mix - now ready for serious deer use:



This gives you a sense - of a plot in progress - it never really ends - and you need to react from year to year. We hope to get 3-4 years out of the 2 acre clover plot - then go back to corn - with healthy soil.

Hope you liked the progression

FH