Winter Routine: Sanding

Now that the big show is over, Pine Island Cranberry has settled into the winter routine, chiefly the winter flood and sanding. (Though the weather has been so lovely that, as team member Vincent Arnwine says, it’s more like fall sanding.) Sanding is a big part of our striving for continuous improvement. “We are constantly evaluating and re-evaluating what sanding does for us,” says PIICM manager Cristina Tassone.

As we mentioned here last December, sanding is a process where we apply 1/2″ to 1″ of sand on the bog surface every five years on a rotating basis. This year we are scheduled to sand almost 215 acres. This procedure helps improve growth and yield by stimulating the development of new uprights (covering the base of the roots strengthens the root system and creates a more healthy vine) while also suppressing disease and reducing insects (by burying weed seed, spores, and insect eggs). It also improves soil drainage while at the same time absorbing and releasing heat so that frost danger in spring is lessened. This increases our efficiency by lowering the need for extra plant nutrition as well as saving water by cutting down frost irrigation times.

“This year, we’re isolating all variables to see what sanding really does for us and what is really needed,” says Cristina. “To that end, we’re moving to a six-year cycle. A good sanding plan means not having to micromanage the relationship between frost, weather, disease, insects, weeds, and nutrition.”

Also, the sand needs to be as pure as possible in order to prevent soil compaction (which can restrict water and limit growth) so we screen our sand before using it on the barge to take out any clay, stones, or other debris which could cause problems. “It’s important to make sure you’re screening ‘good’ sand and not clay,” says team member Junior Colon.

The process itself is simple: a dump truck is loaded with two or three loader buckets of sand. The dump truck then heads over to the bog being sanded, backs up to the excavator, and drops the load. The excavator operator then loads the hopper of the sander, while the sander operator moves along the cable, adjusting the opening for the sand to fall. Jorge is sanding at 1/2″ for this particular bog. The process is repeated, with the excavator and tractor moving forward the length of the bog together.

Sanding from Pine Island Cranberry on Vimeo.