Tillage options

What is strip-tillage?


Strip-tillage, which creates a soil environment that enhances seed germination, is a new alternative to no-till in areas where poorly drained soils are dominant. Where soil moisture conditions are suitable, strip-tillage creates narrow-width tilled strips, traditionally in the fall, to increase early spring soil evaporation and soil temperature in the top two inches of soil. (Iowa Extension)

Benefits of strip-tillage:

One major benefit of strip-tillage is faster soil warming in the spring, which results from the shape of the strips. The faster soil warming allows for earlier planting in the spring. This practice also allows for maximizing soil moisture, which helps reduce runoff. Strip-tillage equipment saves both time and fuel through one trip tillage.

What is vertical tillage?

Vertical tillage equipment runs fast and low to the ground to cut down on residue while leveling out the seedbed. The blade cuts through tough residue and efficiently opens cold, wet soils to the warming action of the sun.DSC_0105-1024x682_medium

Benefits of using vertical tillage:

There are many beneficial attribute to vertical tillage. Using vertical tillage helps prevent soil erosion on fields through increasing soil stability and maximizing root development, which keeps the soil in place. Also, less time and fuel are consumed because the machinery works quickly and easily through the soil. Other benefits include increased soil moisture and the maintenance of surface residue through a one trip tillage product.

What is no-till?

No-till is a tillage system where equipment, such as disks, chisel plows, or field cultivators which disturb the soil, are not used.

Benefits of using no-till:notill

No-till systems offer many economic and environmental benefits. No-till plays a huge role in erosion prevention because the crop residue is left on the field as coverage and the soil is not disturbed. Additionally, no-till helps reduce soil compaction and improves the structure of the soil. Reductions in using equipment on the field equate to savings in labor, fuel, and equipment costs.

Natalie EndresTillage options