As the seasons change and you are considering strategies for field management, you’re going to want to ensure that you have the proper tillage tool on hand to take care of all of the necessary tasks. That being said, there are several tillage tools to choose from – how do you know which one is best for you?
Let’s take a look at some tips that can help you decide which tillage tool is ideal for your needs, as well as some of their various features.
1. Take a Look at Your Topsoil
Depending on your region, you may have thinner or thicker topsoil than others. If you have thinner topsoil, your moisture levels will be drier overall. That being said, the average crop yield may differ dramatically compared to someone who is working with a moist, thick topsoil. If this is the case, you may want to use a tillage practice that only penetrates a few inches down into the soil, like vertical tillage.
2. Factor in Your Current Cost of Operation
This means including fuel, seed, fertilizer, and chemical costs. Ultimately, the right answer as to which tillage tool is right for you will depend on which tillage practice you select, and how you can best improve and maintain your specific field’s crop-producing ability for the long-term.
3. Know How to Work with Thick Topsoil
If you have thick topsoil, you may want to use a disk deeper in your first pass, incorporating the sized residue deeper into the soil, along with weed roots and seeds. This is a more intensive tillage practice, which will ultimately require more tractor power – something you need to be aware of when you’re choosing your tillage tools.
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