Kevin and Ken Nixon, Ilderton, ON, Middlesex
Soil Type: Silt loam | Farm Operation: Cash Crop – Corn/Soy/Wheat
Years in Operation of Zone-till (5-8 in. deep):

Tillage/Cropping System

System: Zone-till (5-8 in. deep)
Fall Tillage: Make Strips
Spring Tillage: Planter

Planter Make, Model and Description

Kinze Model 2210 – 12 Row Econofold with factory liquid fertilizer
Martin Row cleaners, spading closing wheels, & drag chains, Keeton seed firmers

Tillage/Coulter Dimensions:

Kinze notched single disc fertilizer openers at 3”x 3”

Fertilizer System:
Liquid In furrow: none
Broadcast: none
Dry Banded: 16-80-180 (in fall w/ stripper) - supplies balance of P & K needs for 3 yrs.
Additional Nitrogen on Planter: 30 lbs as U.A.N. 3” x 3”
Sidedress N: ~ 85 lbs as Ammonia on 60” spacing

Pros

Cons

1 pass in fall – soil preparation & fertilizer application.
1 pass in spring with planter as early (or earlier than) conventional tillage.
Minimal soil disturbance and yields comparable to full width tillage. This completes the 3 year corn/soy/wheat cycle without full width tillage.
All field activities for corn production conducted with less than 10 L/ac fuel.

Overhead stripper & guidance system. The markers are not practical in wheat stubble.
Some planter modifications required – in our case, there were no modifications that required a welder or cutting torch.
Keeping the planter on the strip in tall, lodged stubble can be problematic.
Volunteer wheat/fall weed control timing can be tricky. Once strips are installed, all field operations cease until spring