University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications Biological Systems Engineering

1992

Cultivators For Conservation Tillage

Robert Grisso Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, [email protected]

Paul J. Jasa University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected]

Elbert C. Dickey University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected]

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Grisso, Robert; Jasa, Paul J.; and Dickey, Elbert C., "Cultivators For Conservation Tillage" (1992). Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications. 245. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/245

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CULTIVATORS FOR CONSERVATION TILLAGE

Cultivation, a proven weed control method, covered with crop residue after planting. Con­ should be used primarily to control weeds, re­ servation tillage includes several tillage systems build ridges, or aerate poorly drained or crusted that have preplan! tillage operations to loosen the soils. Cultivating just to stir the oi l usuall y drie soil as well as no-till and ridge plant systems. the soil and can result in lower yields during drier cropping conditions. For example, cultivating during warm and windy conditions can result in Cultivator Components lA to * inches of soil moisture loss. Conservation tillage cultivators look much like conventional cultivators. However, the three to The main difference between a conservation five shovels per row of a conventional cultivator tillage cultivator and a conventional cultivator is generally are reduced to a single shank having the ability to handle residue and penetrate the a wide sweep or horizontal disk. To allow residue soil. By definition, conservation tillage should to flow past this shank, a coulter is usually leave at least 30 percent of the soil surface mounted in front of it to cut the residue.

Down Pressure Parallel Links Springs Tool Bar I D

Baning off Wide Sweep Residue Cutting L Coulter Disks

The coulter, barring-off disks and sweep are positioned so that residue can easily flow through a conservation tillage cultivator.

Robert D. Grisso, Extension Agricultural Engineer; Paul J. Jasa, Extension Engineer; Elbert C. Dickey, Extension Agricultural Engineer-Conservation, Departrl!ent of Biological Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Shovel located adjacent to the rows on a bottom of the furrow) to kill weeds and maintain the ridge. Caution i needed conventional cultivator have been replaced loo en the oil. A deep cultivation at early because disk-hiller tend to form peak­ with barring-off di ks. These di sks cut crop growth tages has le of a chance of haped ridge . residue and can be et to move ~o il either pruning or damaging crop root than a deep Traditionally, adjustment and use of crop toward or away from the row and control cultivation later in the season and will keep shields have not been of much concern, weeds in areas not undercut by the wide the cultivator operating below re idue be­ especiall y during the second cultivation. sweep. Some manufacturers use an extra­ tween the rows. This will also provide However, with ridge plant, the crop hields wide sweep to eliminate the need of bar­ plenty of soil to carry the residue over the can pl ay an important role by helping con­ ring-off disks. sweeps. The econd cultivation or ditching trol the ridge shape. Since the crop may be operati on when the crop i taller prov ide relatively tall at econd cultivation, the u e The point of the weep must be operated additional weed control and i used for of open-top hield is nece ary. below the soil surface at a depth ufficient rebuilding the ridge with the previously to keep soil moving over the sweep. Thi loo ened soil . In case where most of the Remember, ridge building is a slow pro­ helps avoid plugging because the residue ridge remains after planting, a econd cul­ cess. Don't expect to build a 6- or 8-inch i carried by the so il through the cultivator. tivation may not be necessary since only ridge the first year. This would require However, exces ive depth can cause soil a little soil needs to be moved to rebuild moving a lot of soil. Start with a 4- to slabbing and poor weed control because and re hape the ridge. In this case, the first 6-inch ridge. If the ridges are not torn down weeds are still rooted in chunks of soil. cultivation can be used for both weed con­ or damaged from wheel traffic or live tock, Soil penetration must be considered when trol and ridge maintenance. more soil can be added each year to the electing a cultivator for no-till and ridge ridge. Thus, the goal of an 8-inch ridge may plant ystem . The cultivator must carry be a proces requiring 2 to 3 years. enough weight to penetrate untilled oil and The number of rows on the cultivator or to cut large amounts of re idue. Manufac­ ditching implement and the planter must be turers often make this weight available with the arne. Thi ensures that all ridge heavier and stronger shanks, frame mem­ within a single pass of the planter are bers and tool bar . Down pre sure springs parallel and equally spaced. If a planter are often u ed to transfer weight from the straddle a gues row from the prev ious tool bar to the individual row units. eason's ridging operation, it i difficult to Conservation tillage cultivators usually keep the planter on the ridges. have flexible row units with independent peaked is rounded or nat topped depth control. As such, the e cultivator undesirable is desirable have a depth gauge wheel or depth band The shape of the ridge is critical. Ideally, the Other Cultivator · adjacent to the coulter to control the oper­ ridge should be rounded or flat-topped . Considerations ating depth of each row unit. To maintain the proper operating angle of the weep and A peak- haped ridge is easier to make, but Several other cultivators that u e rolling to allow operation through uneven urface difficult to keep a planter on. To form a spiders or disk gangs can be successfully conditions, individual row units are often rounded or flat-topped ridge, soil should u ed in residue covered fields. Some con­ attached to the tool bar by a wide, stable be pushed to the row rather than thrown. ventional cultivators can be modified to parallel linkage. The height of the ridge hould be 6 to 8 handle re idue but may not have sufficient inches after culti vation. Because of wea­ strength to carry the extra weight for thering and settling, the e ridges will be penetration. Most cultivators built for ridge Ridge Plant from 4 to 6 inche high the following plant or conservation tillage are rugged and Considerations spring. heavy. They can also be used to apply anhydrous ammonia or liquid nitrogen Ridging or furrowing wings, attached be­ Cultivation is an integral part of ridge plant before planting or at cultivation. This can systems and is used for controlling weeds hind the center sweep or horizontal disk are make a conservation tillage cultivator more and rebuilding the ridge. Two cultivations used to build rounded or flat-topped ridges. cost effecti ve because it can do more than or a cultivation and a ditching operation in Most wings can be raised out of the way one job. furrow irrigated fields are usually nece - when not in use by repositioning a pin or sary to rebuild the ridges. bolt. These wings push the soil from the Remember, fields that are planted using sweep or disk to the row area. For furrow conservation tillage methods require The first cultivation should be early and irrigators, a hovel-type ditcher, rather than cultivators that can handle residue and relatively deep (2 to 4 inches below the a disk-hiller, should be used to build or penetrate the soil. ~~j;~ ·-~ ~-

This conservation tillage' fact sheet was produced through the cooperative efforts of representatives of Cooperative Extension, Midwest Plan Service, NACO's Conservation Technology Informa­ tion Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the USDA Soil Conservation Service. These organizations offer all programs and services on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex , age. marital status, or handicap.

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