Residue management in the spring

Tillage and harrowing in the spring can further dry out the seedbed. It does not conserve moisture. A moisture probe in tilled versus untilled land will demonstrate this.

And instead of improving residue flow, these extra passes over the field to break down standing stubble may actually reduce residue flow through drills.

Learn how five wheat residue management strategies (two different combine choppers, a check with no further management, a heavy-harrowed treatment, and a tilled treatment) impacted canola emergence and yield in the Effect of cereal crop residue distribution on the following year’s canola emergence and yield research.

Tillage can make dry soil conditions even worse.
Tillage can make dry soil conditions even worse.