Change Mindset, Change Tillage | Move to Strip-till Saves Fuel, Equipment, Time

Strip-Till Equipment

Strip-till works well in fields with heavy residue. There should be 70% soybean residue in the field when strip-tilling corn after beans. Strips establish a slightly elevated seedbed that warms up earlier in the spring, promoting earlier seed germination, which also helps reduce the risk of disease.

• Ideally, strips are established in the fall after harvest using shank-type row units. However, coulter units can also work well when you are forced to establish strips in the spring.
• The typical strip-till equipment row units, from front to back include:
  • row cleaner
  • coulter
  • tillage shank with dry fertilizer or liquid/anhydrous knife
  • closing disk to form berm
  • optional rolling basket (more prevalent during spring)

(Source: Charles Ellis, natural resources engineer, University of Missouri)