Tillage Innovation Profiles

 

Mike Strang, Exeter, Huron
Soil Type: Clay loam | Farm Operation: Cash Crop
Years in Operation of Coulter Harrow:

Tillage/Cropping System

System: Coulter Harrow
Fall Tillage: Wheat stubble – one pass RTS
Spring Tillage: Once over with RTS

Planter Make, Model and Description
  • 8/15-row Kinze for 30 inch corn rows and 15 inch bean rows
Tillage/Coulter Dimensions:
  • Coulter blades in front of seed opener, Keeton seed firmer, one Dawn Spider wheel per row

Fertilizer System:
Liquid In furrow: 6 gal/ac Alpine
Broadcast: If required based on soil test
Dry Banded: none
Additional Nitrogen on Planter: none
Sidedress N: VRT – maps from management zones, then PSNT

Salford RTS
Producer's Comments

Pros

Cons
  • Low disturbance method of warming and drying soil ahead of planter.
  • Reduced horsepower/fuel/labour compared to conventional tillage.
  • Maintains a high amount of residue.
  • High operation speeds (increased acres/hr).
  • Has allowed us to move to “no-till” corn.
  • Soil remains level for easier traveling when spreading fertilizer or applying herbicides.
  • In dry weather, soil can get hard which can make it difficult for RTS to penetrate.
  • Must be careful under wet conditions – RTS looks like it’s doing a good job but you may actually be causing some soil structure damage.
  • Must have starter nitrogen on planter.