Field Crop Production - No-Till and Ridge Till Systems

Table of Contents

1. No-Till
2. Ridge Till
3. Transition Phase - Getting from A to B
4. Available in Published Version of Field Crop Production

No-Till

The move to the no-till system is gaining popularity in North America. Farmers, who are concerned with soil and water quality, find no-till systems a profitable alternative. Three points describe no-till:

• Fields are no longer plowed
• Plant residues remain on soil to protect it from erosion
• During the planting operation, a narrow seedbed is prepared by the planter/drill to allow adequate seed and fertilizer placement.

Figure 1. No-till corn in soybean residue.

For more information see the Best Management Practices book, No-till: Making it Work.

Ridge Till

Ridge till is an alternative to no-till. It requires more initial effort and investment so consequently, is not adopted as readily. This system is more adaptable to poorly-drained soils than no-till. The same basic principles for no-till apply along with the following:

• A cultivator forms a ridge during early summer. The following year's crop is planted onto the ridge
• Once established, the ridges are not removed
• The establishment of permanent ridges means that traffic is limited to specific areas within the field. This reduces soil compaction in the root zone. However, it often requires wheel-spacing modifications to machinery
• Weeds are controlled with a row crop cultivator which reduces the need for herbicides
• At the present time, forage crops are not usually grown on ridges.

Figure 2. Ridge till soybeans into corn stalks.

Transition Phase - Getting from A to B

Experienced no-till and ridge till farmers often talk of a transition period of three to five years before seeing the full benefits of the system. During this transition phase, a number of changes occur.

• The soil structure will improve.
• Residue management changes.
• The type of pests and their control may change.
• Equipment will change.
• Crop rotations may change.
• Nutrient management changes.

This is a period of adjustment for you and all the components of your cropping system. The following table illustrates one example.

As soil structure changes, the soil will dry and warm up faster in the spring. This will, in turn, have an effect on planting dates. Satisfactory results may be experienced during the first year of no-till or ridge till if all the parts of the crop production system are considered.

Crop Rotations

Crop rotations are crucial to the success of reduced tillage systems. They help in residue management and are important for improving soil structure. Rotations also help break disease and insect cycles.

Getting Started

Choosing to adopt a new tillage system can be confusing. Be aware of what you are getting involved in. Talk to farmers who have been practising no-till or ridge till for more than five years.

It is possible to combine the best of each system to suit a particular farm situation. For example, inter-row cultivate no-till corn. Farmers splitting nitrogen applications find this useful as they are making an extra pass anyway. Dairy and beef farmers gain from hybrid systems.

Things to Consider

No-Till

• Field Selection
  • Coarse textured soils are easier to manage.
  • Good soil drainage either natural or tile will offset some of the potential soil warming and drying problems associated with increases in residue cover.
  • Try to alternate crop families each year.
  • The easiest place to start no-till is with the winter wheat crop into soybean stubble.
• Harvest
  • Harvest time of the previous crop is the time to start thinking no-till.
  • Spread residue the full width of the header.
  • Limit compaction and rutting.
• Weed Control
  • Assess weed problems immediately after harvest.
  • Post harvest control may be required.
  • The timing of a burndown, whether in the fall or closer to planting time, depends on the weeds to control.
  • Typically, a weed control program involves burndown, pre-emerge, or post-emerge treatments.
  • A rescue treatment may be necessary if the target, timing or method chosen were inaccurate.
• Planting
  • Set up a suitable planter/drill that accurately places seed and fertilizer in untilled soil.
  • Plant when residue is dry or brittle. All residue should be dead.

   

Ridge Till System

• Field Planning
  • Sands are easier to manage than silts or clays.
  • Ridges should run across the direction of the tiles.
  • Think about the crop rotation.
• Building the First Ridge
  • The first ridge is formed in the corn crop.
  • Till the field conventionally.
  • Plant with a conventional planter.
  • Purchase a ridge cultivator.
  • Set up and adjust to form a 15 cm (six-inch) high, flat-top ridge.
  • Conduct when corn is 46 cm (18 inches) high.
• Harvest
  • All wheel spacing must be adjusted to avoid running on the ridge.
  • Consider controlled traffic i.e. all wheel tracks down the same row.
  • Ensure even residue distribution at harvest.
• Plant Ridges
  • The first crop planted on the ridge is soybeans.
  • The series of operations are as follows: burndown, plant and band herbicide, cultivate, cultivate and ridge (see note below).
• Harvest
  • Ensure even residue distribution.
  • Scout field for weed problems.
  • Chop corn stalks, if required.

Note: Corn - a 15 cm (six-inch) high ridge - Soybeans - a 8-10 cm (three or four inch) high ridge provided the bottom pods are harvestable. If wheat is to follow soybeans, no re-forming of the ridge is done during cultivation.

Available in Published Version of Field Crop Production

Soil Management

• Residue Management
• Crop Rotation
  • Crop Sequences for Residue Management
  • Rotation Effect and Disease Prevention
  • Common Crop Rotations

Nutrient Management

• Pest Management
• Equipment
• No-till Case Study, Ridge Till Case Study
• Trouble Shooting - Chart

Best Management Practices: Field Crop Production