Update from the Field: Squeeze the Charmin, Not Your Soil
Posted by Dave Dyson, Agronomist on March 28, 2019
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The excessive soil moisture last fall, the above average snowfall this winter, and the forecasted significant spring precipitation could present challenges during the upcoming planting season. Unfortunately, due to the short harvest window last fall, most producers ran equipment on soils that were too wet, creating compaction layers, or they ran on saturated soils which are now unlevel fields. Even though the rutted fields appear to be worse, the shallow compaction layers that were made last fall can cause a yield reduction as well.
It is important to determine the depth of the soil compaction. As described in my last article, compaction layers near the top three to six inches of soil are generally associated with excessive surface pressure. Compaction at deeper depths is primarily associated with axle weight or deep ruts. It is very easy to test where your compaction layer starts. Take a soil probe or spade and push it down into the soil to determine the level of compaction by the level of resistance.
Once you have figured out where and how dense the compaction layer is, the decision to till or not to till will be upon you. First and foremost, you must have a level soil surface for planting, so tillage will be mandatory if the soil is not level. If tilling the soil to level out the ruts from last fall is forced on you this spring, make sure the soil is dry before you run a tillage pass through the soil. If a tillage pass is done on wet or saturated soil, you will compound the problem by making another compaction layer. Try waiting for soils to dry before starting field work, but watch the calendar. If the calendar gets too late due to continuous spring moisture, no-till planting may be your best option for the 2019 cropping season.
Starter fertilizer, in the form of an in-furrow or a 2x2 application will always pay dividends in a wet/cool planting situation. The restricted root growth due to multiple compaction layers in the soil may cause your plant to rely completely on the starter fertilizer until V5. The V5 stage is critical for the corn plant because at that stage the corn plant has determined the maximum number rows of kernels the ear will produce. Roots that are restricted by compaction tend to form into a “Mohawk” formation, figure 1. This formation of roots can only get nutrients from a band of fertilizer placed close to the seed trench. The Andersons can provide you with a high quality, low-salt starter fertilizer that is safe for your seed’s germination, and it also will provide vital nutrients to your plant’s restricted roots.
Figure 1: This picture from Pioneer Seeds shows restricted corn roots, called “Mohawk” roots.
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Dave Dyson is a regional agronomist for The Andersons’ Farm Centers which are located throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. He is an Indiana native and grew up on a dairy farm in Miami County. A graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Crop & Soil Science, Dave has a deep knowledge of various agronomic topics and is committed to helping growers improve their crops. If you have any questions, Dave can be reached at david_dyson@andersonsinc.com.
