Fallow Disking
Overview
Fallow disking is defined as disking an area after the first freeze and before the last freeze of winter. The practice gets its name from “fallow” which is an agricultural term for land that has been, but is not currently in crop production. Fallow land is also referred to as “laid out” or “idle”. “Disking” refers to the farm implement used. A disk is a type of plow that uses a roundtoothed blade to actually cut the surface of the soil. Disking, as a general rule, does not break the soil up as deep as other types of plows and leaves a quantity of plant litter on the surface of the field. Disking is usually accomplished with a tandem or offset disk plow. The disk is allowed to cut or plow 2-4 inches deep. Fallow disking resets succession in strips or patches to stimulate volunteer communities of large‑seeded annuals/perennials (ragweed, partridge pea, native sunflowers, beggar’s‑lice) and to create bare‑ground for brood foraging.
Where This Practice Applies
- Field borders
- Fallow cropland edges
- Old fields
- Woodland openings
Species That Benefit
Benefits to Wildlife
- Produces seed foods and insect habitat for quail and songbirds
- Improves brood access via bare ground
When to Use This Practice
Disk in fall/winter/early spring to favor desirable weeds and structure; summer disking often promotes crabgrass/sicklepod. Use a 2–3‑year rotation in borders/old fields.
How It Works
Expose 75–80% soil in 30–60‑ft strips on contour; the disturbance triggers volunteer seed banks or—if weak—accepts supplemental seeding.
Step‑by‑Step Instructions
- Eliminate exotic sods (fescue, Bermuda, Bahia) first; otherwise disking mainly benefits them.
- Disk strips (30–60 ft wide) on fall/winter schedule; maintain alternate‑year patterns to diversify structure.
- Seed assist where needed: partridge pea or annual lespedezas (3–5 lb/ac in winter) or cereals (≈1 bu/ac in fall).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Discing sod‑grass without herbicide pre‑control
- Summer disking that favors undesirable species