News

Avoid pre-plant tillage if it’s wet

An extension corn agronomist says one tip for a successful planting season is avoiding pre-plant tillage when soils are too wet.

Jeff Coulter is with the University of Minnesota.

“If we’re going in there when it’s too wet, that can cause soil compaction, it can result in clods, and those things can lead to uneven seed-soil contact and air pockets around the seed. And that can slow down the imbibition of moisture.”

He tells Brownfield compaction can inhibit root development.

“Particularly if it gets dry after planting, so we want to avoid getting in there when it’s too wet.”

Coulter says if the spring looks to be abnormally dry farmers might want to avoid unnecessary tillage to preserve soil moisture.