Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
4/26/04
Contacts:
Mark Hanna, Ag and Biosystems Engineering, (515) 294-0468, hmhanna@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University agricultural engineer Mark Hanna says one of the best returns on investment in any crop year is taking the time to properly prepare, maintain and adjust planters.
“Planter maintenance is especially important for producers in no-till and reduced tillage systems. Final manipulating of soil and placing seed in the right place to get it off to a good start begins and ends at the planter. It’s the one chance farmers have to insert seed at the correct depth, spacing and seed-to-soil contact. So, even when everything else is perfect (and it rarely is), if the process of planting is poorly managed, producers are risking poor yields.”
As soil conditions change with different locations, soil types or the weather, Hanna says it is important that operators check seed placement behind the planter for depth, spacing and seed-to-soil contact. “The key is understanding that, as opposed to planting in a prepared seedbed, planters in untilled soil actually have to create seed furrows of the right depth, place seed uniformly in the furrow, and establish adequate seed-to-soil contact -- all in one pass through a layer of crop residue.”
Hanna says that planting in cornstalks or forage crops usually requires a row cleaner or coulter mounted ahead of the seed opener on the planter unit. “The row cleaner clears residue and the coulter enables the seed opener to open a more consistent slot and to produce an acceptable seedbed. Farmers should make sure the coulters are sharp and have a good bevel, so they can slice through heavy crop residue. If there is not enough weight on the seed-openers, or the seed openers have not been maintained to keep a narrow profile with sharp edges, the row unit may be ‘resting up’ on the openers without the depth wheels touching the soil surface."
Another thing Hanna says is important to look at is the tension on the cover and pack wheels (or disc). “Adequate coverage and compaction from press wheels and covering discs ensures adequate seed-to-soil contact. Many planters have an adjustable down-pressure spring to vary the amount of surface pressure and coverage for supplying adequate soil contact. Spring pressure may need to be increased in drier surface soil for adequate soil contact and to help bring moisture up to the seed, and decreased after surface soil moisture has been recharged by rainfall to avoid over compacting soil around the seed.”
How does Hanna recommend producers go about planter maintenance? “Check the manual and talk to equipment dealers about planting in no-till or heavy residue. Also, try talking to experienced farmers in your area about prepping your planter for your soil type. And once you get in the field, be flexible and adjust to changes in soil moisture and residue levels and watch for residue ‘hair-pinning’ under the coulter or soil sticking to the soil-engaging components of the planter."
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Funding support provided by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through Cooperative Agreement No. 74-6114-10-03.
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