Ever since David Legvold began farming land owned by St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minn., about 9 years ago, he’s worked with university professors and students to document the impacts of tillage and crop inputs on profitability, soil health and water quality.

Strip-tillers and agronomists agree about the need to maximize the use of fertilizer to produce high-yielding corn and soybean crops.

Enzymes, microbes and humic acids may be the next evolution in residue management, as no-tillers continue searching for ways to increase biological activity in their soils and break down tough cornstalks.

One reason why growers are turning to strip-till is so they can place nutrients in the soil where plants need them.

With soybean prices eclipsing $14 a bushel recently, no-tillers are searching for any edge that could help them squeeze more out of every acre.