Fertilizer Options for Corn Grown with Fall Zone Tillage
Dr. Tom Bruulsema and Greg Stewart


Corn producers can often make more profit by minimizing tillage. However, in many situations no-till reduces corn yield. When corn follows wheat or on heavy-textured or poorly-drained soils, the soil stays cool too long in the spring. Fall zone tillage is one way to overcome some of the problems with no-till. It also opens up new fertilizer placement options. The concept of tilling narrow strips in the fall is attractive because:
  • It requires only one-third to one-half the time and fuel of a fall moldboard plow-spring sec-ondary tillage system
  • It provides a zone of bare soil that warms more quickly in the spring
  • It retains residue cover on the untilled land, protecting against erosion and maintaining infiltration

For more information, see the complete article: Fall Zone Tillage.pdf












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