| A PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO MAXIMIZING YIELD POTENTIAL
Farmers are Saying “Yes” to
No-till
As new farming techniques emerge, farmers must make a decision:
to keep doing the same thing year after year, or to improve farming practices
to make next year better and easier than the last. Many farmers are implementing
no-till practices and are happy to have more time, more money, and improved
soil structure.
Conventional Tilling and No-Till Comparison
Cleared strips in the residue warms
the soil in the row.
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Farming is often a livelihood
for generation after generation of a family. Practices
are passed down and refined over the years, and the
appeal of sticking with methods that are familiar and
that bring attractive yields is obvious.
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But agriculture is also an evolving science—new techniques and
theories are tested and evaluated, and ways to improve upon what were
once commonly accepted practices are being introduced.
No-till farming, or conservation tillage, is the practice where farmers
do not touch the soil with tillage tools after harvest. It
is becoming more popular today because of the rise in fuel
prices and the changes farmers must make to better the environment.
Research shows
that no-till systems, when managed properly, offer better
economic returns than conventional tillage. While yield lagged in some
cases, reduced investment of time, equipment, and fuel compensated for
this difference. Whether in the first year of no-till planting or the
fifteenth, returns remain consistent—an
area that once raised concerns.
Equipment Needed for No-till Success
No-till practices can be difficult but having the right equipment makes
the process successful. Equipment designed to ease the task of no-till
practices is readily available. Costs associated with the tillage systems’ equipment
are reasonable.
A successful no-till operation is the result of
a planter suited to the task. Even no-till planters
require careful adjustment to ensure success in varying
field conditions—observing
these differences and compensating for them is essential.
In heavy or wet residue conditions, a two-coulter, offset
coulter, or vshaped two-disc setup may be necessary.
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| In
no-till, a strong, reliable coulter assembly is needed
to optimize the seed-to-soil contact that translates
into vigorous root growth and uniform emergence. |
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In some cases, a coulter engineered for no-till is needed to optimize
the seed-to-soil contact that translates into vigorous root
growth and uniform emergence. No-till coulters should be
appropriate for residue management. In many cases, residue
management attachments can also be added, which, in heavy
residue conditions, will contend with row unit bounce, ensure seed-to-soil
contact, and expatiate soil warm
up of after planting.
Time, Fuel, and Chemical Savings
Conventional tillage
requires five passes through the same field. No-till
requires only two passes, typically an application
of nitrogen, planting, and possibly a follow-up trip
to side-dress fertilizer. In no-till, planting more
acres in less time is a given, and producers get a
quicker return on your investment.
Farmers also save on chemical usage when implementing
no-till. Fertilizers and herbicides can be directly applied
at planting in bands instead of mixed throughout the
soil. |
The right residue management
attachments permit planting
in heavy residue conditions. |
Soil and Environmental Benefits |
Proper residue management
improves
emergence.
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Economics alone
are enough to make farmers feel good about using no-till,
but the environmental benefits are also significant.
Farmers who practice no-till are improving their soil
quality and reducing the amount of carbon being released
into the atmosphere, or what is known as carbon sequestration. |
It was mentioned earlier that conventional tillage leads to soil compaction
and erosion. Jerry Hatfield, a researcher at the U.S. department of Agriculture’s
Soil and Tilth Lab commented, “Soil compaction hampers root development,
thus limiting water and nutrient uptake and decreasing yields by 10 to
50 bushels per acre.”
No-till is better for the soil because crop residue
from the undisturbed crops protects the soil surface
from the affects of heavy rain. Surface crusting does
not occur because of the residue, allowing water to
infiltrate at a faster rate. Crop residue slows evaporation,
creating more water for plant growth. No-till fields
generally have richer soil, a higher microbial content,
and more organic material in the soil. |
| No-till
fields generally have richer soil, a higher microbial
content, and more organic material in the soil. |
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Residue on the surface also serves another purpose—carbon sequestering.
According to a study by the University of Illinois, converting
to no-till is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the build-up
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere because residue holds carbon in the
soil. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, practices
that sequester carbon in the soil help reduce soil erosion and improve
water quality and are consistent with more sustainable and less chemically-dependent
agriculture. Carbon sequestering can increase infiltration, increase
fertility and nutrient cycling, decrease wind and water erosion, minimize
compaction, enhance water quality, and decrease carbon emissions.
Even
though there are many improvements to the soil and environment
when switching to no-till, the final decision might come down to the
savings on fuel, labor, and time. With the right equipment, skill, and
dedication, no-till has the potential to make next year’s crop more profitable than
the last.
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Visit www.yetterco.com to review past issues of The Leading Edge
and Yetter products that maximize your yield potential. |
Notice – The
information contained in this guide is offered in good
faith by Yetter Mfg. Co., Inc. to further the understanding
of no-till farming. However, the use of the information
provided is beyond the control of Yetter Mfg. Co., Inc.
and in no case shall Yetter Mfg. Co., Inc. or any seller
of its products be responsible for any damages which may
occur from the use of this information. All such risks
shall be assumed by the user.
Yetter Manufacturing Co., Inc.
109 S. McDonough
Colchester, Illinois 62326
Phone:800-447-5777
FAX: 309-776-3222
www.yetterco.com
E-mail:info@yetterco.com |
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