Tillage Innovation Profiles

 

Gordon Green, Embro, Oxford
Soil Type: Silt loam | Farm Operation: Dairy and Cash Crop
Years in Operation of Zone-till (5-8 in. deep): 12

Tillage/Cropping System

System: Zone-till (5-8 in. deep)
Fall Tillage: aerawy before manure
Spring Tillage: Trans Till

Planter Make, Model and Description
  • J. D. 7000- 8 row trail type
  • Equipped with type of trash whipper
Tillage/Coulter Dimensions:
  • 20” center coulter
  • Knife behind set at 6” depth
  • 2 wavy coulters- 1 on each side of knife that are 16” and 2” wavy

Fertilizer System:
Liquid In furrow: 28% with trans till
Broadcast: none
Dry Banded: with planter on some field 100 lbs/ac
Additional Nitrogen on Planter: none
Sidedress N: none

Producer's Comments

Pros

Cons
  • Less fuel
  • Less labour and equipment
  • Less erosion
  • Retains moisture in the soil
  • Allows soil to dry out before planting
  • Leaves residue on surface which builds soil organic matter
  • Improves texture of soil
  • Machinery works better in wet fall
  • Yields very comparable to conventional tillage
  • Can be used successfully in wet springs when no-till would not work
  • Allows soil to dry out after liquid manure applications
  • Can erode on hilly terrain under very high rains zones created by trans-till
  • Corn emerges slower, but it usually catches up