Home / soil

Articles Tagged with ''soil''

Happy Worms Mean More Profitable No-Till Yields

Michigan producer creates a nearly perfect no-till ecosystem with the help of night crawlers.

By Mark Moore posted on July 1, 2008 | Posted in Soil Health

Jim Brushaber’s farm may not look different on the surface, but he invites you to dig a little deeper.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Strip-Till Handles Soil Challenges

But this grower says you won’t reap the full soil-building benefits of no-till or strip-till for 5 years.

By Tom Muller posted on July 1, 2008 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming

When we decided that we wanted to no-till corn back in 1994, we knew we would face a tough challenge from our cold, wet spring soils. So, my brother Steve and I (with the support of our Dad, Dave) decided to try fall strip-tilling.

Frank Comments

A Different Look At Carbon

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2008

While no-tilled crops are widely considered to be among the best ways to sequester carbon, the actual amounts may actually be tied to soil type, soil drainage and soil depth.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Fixing Flaws Of No-Till In Infancy Led To Opener

To establish consistent seed germination, New Zealand’s John Baker learned that protecting soil humidity when planting was a critical need with no-till opener designs.

By Ron Ross and Dr. C. John Baker posted on June 1, 2008

Some 41 years ago, when a few colleagues and I began what would become a three-decade scientific effort at New Zealand’s Massey University, we did not set out to invent a new no-tillage system.

Review Planter Performance; Apply Nitrogen Efficiently

While preparing to make sidedressed nitrogen applications, check early crop stands to see whether you need to adjust your no-till planter for next year.

By Jim Leverich posted on June 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management

Hopefully, your crop is off to a great start! Now is a good time to assess crop stands and learn from your planting-season management to see if there are things you should do differently.

Wanted: No-Till Soil Samples

No-Till Farmer readers can be part of a unique research project that will lead to a FREE soil analysis and offer new insights into developing more valuable soil properties with no-till.

By Frank Lessiter posted on June 1, 2008 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

When three Ohio State University educators spoke about soil properties and structure at last winter’s National No-Tillage Conference, they asked attendees to help them take a closer look at the many changes occurring with less tillage.

Is Tillage OK Once Every 10 Years?

There are better ways than moldboard plowing to reduce potential phosphorus runoff in no-tilled fields, experts say.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on June 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

Is there a benefit to moldboard plowing a no-till field once every 10 years? A recent article, “Changing Tillage, Changing Nutrient Management,” in the Spring 2008 issue of Plant Nutrition Today suggested that continuous no-till can lead to accumulation of phosphorus (P) at the soil surface, causing higher P concentrations in runoff.

Management That Makes Nitrogen More Efficient

Planter setup modifications and cover crops are helping an Indiana no-tiller improve his fertilizer efficiency while maintaining high corn yields.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on June 1, 2008 | Posted in Nutrient Management

Like many no-tillers, Mike Starkey got his start with soybeans. But after struggling to make no-till corn work, he practiced rotational tillage for more than a decade.

Maintain Good Management As You Return To The Fields

This spring, consider keeping track of field performance, using fertilizer efficiently and rotating herbicide modes of action.

By Jim Leverich posted on May 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

For many no-tillers, this was a long winter filled with cold temperatures and substantial snowfall — at least in the upper to central regions of the Midwest.

Your No-Till Soils Could Stand Some Improvement

Penn State soil scientist says there are several things you should do to make your no-till soils perform even better.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on May 1, 2008 | Posted in Soil Health

Just because you are no-tilling, it doesn’t mean that you are doing the best you can for the soil structure of the land that you farm, Sjoerd Duiker says.

Current Issue

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.

Subscribe Now

Innovators Honored for Blazing a Path for No-Till Adoption

Searching for a Silver Lining After a Tough Year of No-Tilling

When it Comes to Brand Loyalty, More Growers Are Willing to Switch Brands with Planter, Drill & Sprayer Buys — Three Slices of the Overall Farm Equipment Market Which Are Critical for No-Tillers

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

Ponds, Panels, Pollinators: No-Till Innovator Takes Conservation to Next Level

On this edition of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by CultivAce, No-Till Farmer’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick, showcases how he’s taking conservation ag to the next level in Vincennes, Ind., with ponds, solar panels, duck hunting and more.

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.