The agronomic side of strip-tilling is an important component and Mike Petersen, agronomist with Orthman Manufacturing, offers some primary tips — in an agronomic sense — that successful strip-tilling provides, including reduced nutrient loading to lakes and water courses, elimination of unnecessary pre-plant passes through the field and increased natural residue breakdown.

First is the seedbed we are able to prepare for any row crop

a.] Allowance for more accurate placement of individual seeds in the soil surface layer

b.] Diminish the issue of hair pinning of residues in the seed trench by 95-98% which can reduce germination

c.] Decrease planter bounce due to old root balls, stalks, clods and stems which can cause poor seed placement

Second, exposure of the soil surface from the after harvest protective blanket of residues to allow warming of the soil to germinate seeds earlier and in the more correct temperature for individual crop to be grown, [ie: 50-55°F./10-13° Celsius for maize]

Third, a warmer root zone for the early plant to reach greater depths and start quicker nutrient uptake from surface into the subsoil (2 to 7° F warmer, 1 to 4°C)

Fourth, Strip-Till accentuates early root development both vertically and laterally. Soil temperatures are warmer so young infant plants can extend roots deeper vertically and lateral roots will get started to spread parallel with the soil surface.

Fifth, in the strip-tilled zone the soil density is lowered with a higher percentage of medium and larger sized pores [medium 1-2mm diameter/2-5mm diameter for large pores] for improved water intake throughout the growing season

a.] Early root development at the root tip is not as robust until the plant is 25 days old (the root tip driving pressure is no more than 150lbs/sq. inch at 15 days after emergence)

b.] With a shank implement as is the Orthman 1tRIPr we can alleviate soil compacted layers within the first 12 inches (30cm) but not shattering the entire soil profile from shank to shank.

Note: it has been suggested by soil physicists that the medium sized pores are best for adsorbing and releasing water to the plant roots because of soil-water tension characteristics. Interesting yes?

Sixth, nutrient placement with the Strip-Till system has several redeeming values.

a.] Accuracy of placing fertility package/nutrients below the seed for the first 25 days has great effect

b.] Accuracy of placing nutrients for the first and second critical phases of crop development, extremely important

c.] Opportunity to place 30 to 85% of the N-P-K load as per desired levels for yield in the root path with Strip-Till

d.] Ease of placing nutrients in pre-plant either fall or spring tillage passes

e.] Reduction of nutrient loads that are due to efficiency and proximity to the root growth

Seventh, the opportunity to place both mobile and less mobile ions in the soil which can reduce losses from wind and water erosion – avoiding surface water pollution issues which is a growing like wildfire concern and rightfully so.

Eighth, the opportunity for growers to reduce nutrient loading to lakes and water courses. May seem to be a repeat of item #7, but consider the Phragmites, algae blooms, and Cattail invasions to the clogging of small reservoirs or streambanks due to N and P being transported in the process of siltation and sediment flow. Cattails do not thrive unless levels of P is higher than normal.

Ninth, the elimination of unnecessary pre-plant passes across the field, able to reduce to 1 pass (till ‘n plant) in many cases.

Tenth, with strip-till we observe greatly improved earthworm populations in the soil profile and other friendly insects and bacteria to thrive and benefit residue breakdown

a.] For example – worms can return up to 17lbs N per acre as they digest carbonaceous material

Eleventh, we see residue breakdown is more of a natural breakdown slowly recharging the carbon storage of soils in the surface and subsurface layers

a.] The improvement of soil organic matter levels has a number of benefits

{1} Assists in improving soil applied and activated herbicide efficacy
{2} Provide more organic exchange sites for nutrient availability to the growing crop
{3} Improve soil tilth – ease of pulling tillage tools thru the soil
{4} Improve soil resiliency (how well soils respond and resist destructive impacts such as heavy traffic, hard raindrop impact, wind sorting, shearing action and downward pressure
{5} Allow soil structure to redevelop back to original vertical units and resist breakdown

b.] Biological function improvements

{1} Allow soil born fungi to thrive and create the symbiotic root relationship for better nutrient uptake
{2} Allow microorthopods to repopulate the near soil surface and digest residues and release nutrients for crop uptake