No-Till Farmer
Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.
Advertise Follow Us
Nitrogen’s Dirty Little Secret
As some farmers switch back to other tillage systems, the truth is that patience and persistence would have paid off with soil nitrogen in a big way with the continued use of no-till.
There's no doubt about it. When you look at the numbers, some farmers, it seems, are parking their no-till equipment and once again emerging from the sheds with the very discs and plows they’d sworn off only a couple of years ago.
What’s even more scary is that they think they’re doing the right thing. “The last few years in Iowa alone, I’ve noticed an extensive amount of soybean ground being worked in the fall,” says Dean Martens, a researcher at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Tillage Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
“In fact, the combine’s not even off the field and they’re already coming right through with the disc and the chisel and tilling that ground. Soybean ground is rather erosive to begin with, so why would they till?
“It has to do with nitrogen and speeding the residue and organic matter mineralization, so that soluble nitrogen is there next spring when the corn plant is emerging.”
This idea that tilling the ground is the best thing for nitrogen management is just plain malarkey, maintains Martens. And to prove it, he’s outlined some ideas on how to work with the needs of the growing plants early in the season to best suit their nitrogen needs.
What Changes?
Moving from conventional to no-till in the first place has some major effects on the makeup of your soil. But the biggest one, Martens explains, are the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen cycling.
“Instead of turning the residue into the soil, you…
Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all No-Till Farmer content and archives online. Learn more about the different versions and what is included.
Top Articles
Current Issue
Buffett Foundation Supports Ukrainian Farmers with Equipment, Financial Aid
Diversifying No-Till Operation with Dairy Makes Smart Business Sense
Food Companies Lack Funding Plans for Sustainability, Regenerative Ag
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- How No-Till Improves Your Land Value
- 5 Pillars for No-Till Farming Effectively, Efficiently
- Making the Precision Basics Even Better with Implement Guidance
- Focusing on Smarter, Sustainable Fertilizing Strategies
Videos
Last-Minute Planter Prep for No-Tillers & Strip-Tillers
On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, precision specialist Chad Baker, co-owner of Baker Precision Planter Works in Orangeville, Ill., helps a first-generation no-tiller with planter setup, and later encounters a couple problems with a strip-tiller’s new 24-row planter. Plus, veteran agronomist Brad Forkner checks in with a couple tips for farmers to keep in mind before they take the field.
Top Directory Listings
Needham Ag Technologies, LLC
Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.
Titan International, Inc
Titan offers a full line of wheels, tires and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment.
The Andersons PureGrade
The Andersons grows enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market, and a knack for finding new ways to add value as we have done for nearly 70 years.