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  • Benny Thompson

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    January 10, 2023 at 3:47 pm
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    On a related topic…I’ve been toying with this idea in my head for the last week. Has anybody ever done something like this?

    Most of the scenarios that John Kempf discusses are in the context of improving an existing culture/crop. It’s pretty rare we talk about clearing land and starting a new culture.

    Maybe conventional ag would spray glyphosate to wipe out all the existing plants, before putting in the new plants. I think most of us know how there could be years of residual damage from this approach.

    In the context of clearing land that is very acidic, what about using hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) to aide the clearing of the land? It will raise the pH instantly. It would be a huge shock to the existing culture, but then it should stabilize quickly too. I don’t think it will have much of a residual effect…but I’m not sure.

    And again, once you’ve decimated the old culture, put in your understory crop, inoculate the soil, then put in your grapes.

    I’ve now mentioned a few times, the strategy of decimating old culture and moving the new culture in quickly. Nobody has commented on whether it’s a good or bad strategy. I’d really like to hear if anybody has tried similar approaches, or has a particular experience that indicates it could work or not work.