How is No-Till Equipment Different?

Requires More Pressure

Conventional equipment is designed to plant into a nicely manicured “fluffy” seedbed. Conversely, in no-till, the ground is firmer and usually covered in a thick residue from the previous year’s crop. 

Penetrating the soil and residue requires more down-pressure. This pressure is achieved with more ballast (heavier no-till planters), adding weights on the planters, or by having pneumatic or hydraulic systems on the planters and drills that apply downward pressure.

Requires More Residue Moving & Cutting

Conventional equipment is designed to plant into bare soil. No-till equipment has the added work of making sure the seed can reach the proper depth in the soil. This often involves moving residues to the side or away from the seed trench and adjusting equipment depth settings. 

Two Basic Types of No-Till EquipmenT: Drills

No-till drills seed crops in narrow rows. The planting units are staggered to enable residue flow between openers. Drills are typically used to plant legumes, small grains and cover crops. 

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Planters

Row units on precision planters (sometimes referred to as corn planters) are typically spaced 30-inches apart (On split-row planters, row units may be 15 inches apart.) These planters are designed to plant larger seeded crops and achieve greater accuracy and precision with more consistent solid seeding depth and spacing than drills. 

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Right Tool for the Right Crops

Some crops, such as soybeans, can be planted effectively with either a drill or a planter, given certain…