Someone has to ask...why are you burning a field? I realize it is done all the time but why?

Really. Unless you have real bad insect or disease problems that can be improved by burning, why not turn the dry stuff under and build up your soil? Burning reduces it all to just a few minerals. A lot goes up in smoke.

Burning organic matter produces more pollutants than most anything out there and burning off a field does not do much to improve the health of the field an actually does more harm than good, by killing off any beneficial soil bacteria as well as destroying for no good reason a lot of organic matter that would feed those soil bacteria. The soil nutrient levels in that field will be unbalanced and that willtend to create soil and plant problems that are difficult to deal with.
There is no benefit to burning rubble off a field.

No one seems to want to answer your question?? Potatoes like a lot of potash, but the problem with ashes and potatoes is that it raises the pH substancially, and a high pH with potatoes = scab.

The practice of burning off occurs naturally in many areas and serves to improve and revitalize the soil. Here on Long Island, we see large areas of the "Pine Barrens" burn during drought conditions every so many years, and the area come back better and more fertile than before in the following years.
It was a common farming practice to do exactly what you did, for many, many years. I have never seen it cause harm to the soil, let alone kill soil microorganisms below the immediate soil surface. Quite the contrary, I believe it does much more good.
The is a lot of varied opinion here on this forum, and much of it seems to be based upon what someone read or upon personal opinion, but a lot is certainly not coming from practical experience.

Ron
The Garden Guy
http://www.TheGardenGuy.org
"New Article & Journal Entry For March"

Thanks for everyones help. I forgot potatoes get scab if the soil is too alkaline...what I will probably do is sow clover in most of that field as soon as I burn it...I asked about this at the prairie link, but no one answered. I am not sure how long I have to wait before I can sow clover and alfalfa in that field...I just want to use one corner of it for potatoes.
sophia

Sophia,
You may be able to still plant taters, even after you do the burn off. Maybe the soil was acidic to start with. Get a sinple pH test done after you burn before you write it off. Good luck,

Ron
The Garden Guy
http://www.TheGardenGuy.org
"New Article & Journal Entry For March"

Burning was popular once because it's an immensely easier way to get some quick fertility and eliminate some weeds than tilling. For blueberry farmers it's a necessity since that is one of various plants that depends upon periodic burns.

On a garden scale it's certainly not the best way to manage resources, but for foresters responsible for hundreds or thousands of acres of land with widely varying characteristics it's one of many methods to cultivate desired plants and especially prevent unwanted fires. I remember as a teenager in NH people often burnt their large fields to stimulate better pasture grass - I participated in it once or twice. When you start to factor in the energy cost of plowing down and re-sowing a large field for pasture vs the pollution cost of burning there probably isn't so much difference, maybe even burning comes out ahead as a net environmental cost.

Or are those of you telling her to turn it over going to show up with a sharp shovel and a full belly and a week of spare time?

I agree pnbrown, but I think that burning can also have value is some gardening situtions.

If I undertood the person who started this thread, she was going to put a brand new plot into cultivation. In that case, I can certainly see value in doing a burn, especially if the plot contains a lot of undesirable material that would take a long time to break down in the soil.

One thing I have learned ove many years is that there are no absolutes in organic agriculture, and Mother Natures always has a few tricks up her sleeve.

Ron
The Garden Guy
http://www.TheGardenGuy.org
"New Article & Journal Entry For March"

People ask about burning fields.

Burning clears away thatch and burns off many weeds and weed seeds. It kills off many of the harmful insects and their eggs too.

A side benefit of burning is that it makes charcoal, which when added to the soil, will eventually create biochar (Amazonian Black Earth).

Not all plants like the biochar but most do.

Biochar holds minerals, beneficial microbes, and water. Think of biochar as a kind of soil buffer for water and minerals.

Use no more than 5% to 10% biochar in your soil unless otherwise indicated. You can always add, but very difficult to remove. GO SLOW when adding biochar or charcoal to soil.

Fresh charcoal added to soil is not biochar. In fact, it can draw out most of the minerals in the soil from 1-3 years. Then it kicks in nicely.

Think of the charcoal as uninoculated seeds of sorts.

The charcoal I refer to is pyrolyzed organic matter, not the stuff you buy for your grill.

The size of grains of rice or smaller (but not necessarily powder) is about ideal.

One site said that one gram of biochar has the surface area of a football field.

Oh and not all charcoal/biochar is equal.

Depends on the organic matter used and the temperatures it was converted.