Planting in Wet Soils - April 25, 2024 - Amy Timmerman, Extension Educator
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- [0:01] This is Amy Timmerman with today’s Extension Update.
- [0:04] We all appreciate the precipitation we are receiving to help refill field capacities
- [0:09] but it is hampering how quickly we are planting.
- [0:13] On a positive note, it is early and we still
- [0:16] have several weeks to get everything into the ground.
- [0:19] But for some there may be no choice but to plant into wet soils this spring.
- [0:24] Side-wall compaction occurs when the planter or drill disc openers
- [0:27] smear the sides of the trench that is opened for seed placement.
- [0:31] Soils with moisture contents near and around field capacity
- [0:34] have the greatest potentials for side-wall compaction.
- [0:38] Soil texture which is the percentage of sand, silt and clay will also influence
- [0:44] the susceptibility of compaction depending on soil moisture content.
- [0:48] It is important to note that fields with sand soil texture actually
- [0:52] need less percentage of soil moisture for compaction to occur.
- [0:56] Sand soils only need 15% soil moisture vs clay textures soils which need
- [1:02] 35% soil moisture for compaction to occur.
- [1:06] Fields with variable soil textures will cause differing levels of
- [1:10] side-wall compaction; this makes it very important to know how to adjust planter settings.
- [1:16] Even if the planter has automatic adjustments, one should still have
- [1:20] concern for the degree of change the planter can have.
- [1:24] Wet soils do not need as much downforce as dry soils unless compacted.
- [1:29] Damp residues will require more downforce to cut through.
- [1:33] If there was ever a time to have new disc openers
- [1:37] on your planters or drills, this may be the one those years.
- [1:41] So what do we do for planter adjustments from front to back
- [1:45] 1. Proper hitch height.
- [1:48] Review planter or drill owner’s manual for recommended height.
- [1:52] 2. Residue managers or furrow openers.
- [1:56] Operating too deep will uncover wetter soil and make the subsequent
- [2:00] planter process much harder to perform.
- [2:02] In wet soils try running residue managers higher
- [2:06] and permit the openers to cut residues.
- [2:09] 3. Cutting residues.
- [2:12] It is important to have sharp or newer disk
- [2:14] openers adjusted with correct spacing.
- [2:16] 4. Proper down pressure on disk openers.
- [2:20] Openers should consistently penetrate the soil to desired
- [2:23] planting depth without excessive pressure.
- [2:26] Check pressure on depth gauge wheels.
- [2:29] One should just be able to turn gauge wheels
- [2:31] with some force when the planter is in the soil.
- [2:35] 5. Seed firming.
- [2:37] A good seed firmer is very important.
- [2:39] Keeping the seed in the trench but
- [2:41] placing it at the bottom of the trench
- [2:43] is very important for even emergence.
- [2:46] 6. Side-wall and furrow closing.
- [2:49] With properly firmed seed, furrow closing is not as important,
- [2:53] however the seed trench should not open when the soil dries.
- [2:57] The concept is to remove the side-wall and place
- [3:00] crumbly soil over the correctly placed seed.
- [3:03] Seed furrow closing wheels that have notched or spiked design
- [3:07] reduce compaction as compared with smoother designs.
- [3:10] This is especially important as bare soil within the row
- [3:14] is increased with residue managers.
- [3:16] And finally 7. Drag chain.
- [3:19] This is older technology, but in some soils a drag chain
- [3:23] can consistently pull a small amount of soil and help crumble it over the seed.
- [3:29] Despite the soil conditions when planting seeds,
- [3:32] the correct planter or drill adjustment is very important.
- [3:36] Now is the time to consider these planter adjustments because the
- [3:39] window of time available for in-field planting operations may be limited.
- [3:43] If you have any questions please reach out to your local extension office.
- [3:47] This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.