Preller says strip-till’s late-season advantage even extends to many no-till fields, particularly those in which natural or compaction-caused soil pan formations prevent deep root development. “Then, when it invariably turns hot and dry in August, strip-till provides another yield bump because strips built pre-planting have improved soil tilth (root access to nutrients, oxygen and moisture) to allow abundant root development, which can provide the crop with moisture during summer’s heat stress.” “Our data shows strip-till done right will consistently provide a stand advantage in corn of 1,500-2,000 plants over the best mulch-till because it helps eliminate residue in the seed zone, which delays emergence,” Preller says. The residue in the seedbed invariably interferes with good seed-to-soil contact - reducing stand uniformity and ultimately overall yields. That doesn’t matter much when planting soybeans or dry beans, but he says it’s a profit-robbing compromise for wheat and corn. Preller explains today’s dominant farming method, mulch-tilling, deliberately mixes residue into the soil where seed will be planted. “Any soil management system deals with those four categories, and we think strip-till offers excellent opportunities to get it right,” he explains. Achieving the right balance of each involves many compromises tied to equipment, crops, weather and soil types. Preller says growers universally deal with crop residue management, soil tilth, plant nutrient availability and seedbed conditions. “Our goal is to use our experience over a lifetime of interaction with farmers and in the equipment business to eliminate the compromises in strip-till management,” he says.
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