AE1370 (Revised)

for Field Crop Production

John StripNowatzki What is Strip Till? Till• Results in crop yields that are similar Agricultural Machine Systems Specialist or higher, compared with other tillage The trend among northern Plains NDSU Extension Service systems farmers is toward using less tillage to Greg Endres produce field crops with more residue • Reduces expenses by eliminating Area Extension Specialist/Cropping some primary and secondary tillage Systems left on the soil surface. Strip till is a field NDSU Extension Service tillage system that combines no till and full tillage to produce row crops. Strip Till and NRCS Jodi DeJong-Hughes Regional Extension Educator Narrow strips 6 to 12 inches wide are Conservation Incentives University of Minnesota tilled in crop stubble, with the area Strip tillage can be used to qualify for between the rows left undisturbed. the Natural Resources Conservation Often, fertilizer is injected into the tilled Service (NRCS) conservation manage- area during the strip-tilling operation. ment/no-till incentive programs. In dry conditions, The tilled strips correspond to planter To qualify for NRCS no-till incentive row widths of the next crop, and seeds programs, a Soil Tillage Intensity Rating reduced-tillage are planted directly into the tilled strips. (STIR) value of 10 or less is required. planting systems Strip tilling normally is done in the preserve moisture fall after harvest, but it also can be Table 1. STIR values for common in the seedbed, done in the spring before planting. tillage operations. enhancing uniform Operation STIR Advantages of Strip Till No tillage 0 germination and • Conserves energy because only part Double-disk opener planter 2.4 plant establishment. of the soil is tilled Strip till – coulter, 5-inch depth; • Reduces soil erosion because most 8-inch berm 7.7 of the soil remains covered with Strip till – shank, 7-inch depth; crop residue throughout the year 10-inch berm 15 • Releases less carbon into the Tandem disk, light finishing 19 atmosphere and maintains higher Vertical till 20 levels of soil organic matter Field cultivator, 6- to • Warms the tilled strips sooner in the 12-inch sweeps 23 spring to promote seed germination Tandem disk 32-39 and plant emergence Ripper 33 • Conserves soil moisture because most of the soil surface area is Chisel, twisted shovel or sweeps 42-49 covered with crop residue Moldboard plow 55-65

June 2017 1 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production STIR is a numerical value calculated Equipment using RUSLE2, a computer model that predicts long-term average annual Equipment Components erosion by water. This model is based and Functions on crop management decisions Several strip-tillage equipment manu- implemented in a field. The NRCS facturers offer a variety of designs and assigns a numerical value to each features. Most equipment manufacturers tillage operation. STIR values range market machines with similar features, from 0 to 200, with lower scores including coulter blades, row cleaners, indicating reduced soil disturbance. tillage shanks, berm-building disks and packing wheels or conditioning baskets. Other benefits of low STIR values Some strip-till equipment designs include increased organic matter Figure 1. Carbon losses from content of the soil and improved tillage operations at Jeffers, Minn. include paired coulters or a large disk water infiltration rates. without a tillage shank. Most strip-till 06/21/07 PROSPER equipment manufacturers in the 50 northern Great Plains produce strip 45 Carbon Sequestration tillers with 30-inch or 22-inch row and40 exposed the greatest amount of soil, Effects allowing35 carbon previously stored spacing. A list of internet addresses of 30 strip-till equipment manufacturers is Soil organic matter plays a critical role in as organic matter or present as CO2 25 the global carbon cycle. Soil can act as a in the soil atmosphere to escape into included at the end of this publication. 20 major source for carbon released into the the atmosphere. 15 Coulter blades cut through the soil and atmosphere and a sink to store carbon. 10 residue ahead of the tillage shank. The 0 When carbon is stored in the soil, ManagingBEET BEANS Crop WHEAT Residue CORN coulters require mounting that allows flexible movement over stones. Some it is not released to the atmosphere as Residue from previous crops limits 07/03/07 PROSPER manufacturers use fluted coulters and greenhouse gases, particularly carbon evaporation50 from the soil surface and 45 designs with depth-control features with dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Tillage maintains relatively high humidity levels 40 the coulters. The coulter size influences increases microbial action on organic in undisturbed soils at 90 to 100 percent, 35 operation in residue; larger-diameter matter stored in the soil and normally which30 are ideal for seed germination. coulters function better in heavy residue. increases the rate of decomposition Even25 with excellent seed-to-soil contact,Strips in fall Strips in spring that changes organic carbon into CO . 20 2 approximately 85 percent of the water Parallel linkages on each row unit 15 entering a germinating wheat seed is Soil organic matter is directly related 10 are desirable on strip tillers operated in the0 form of water vapor. on soil with large stones or rolling to soil fertility and positively correlated BEET BEANS WHEAT CORN topography because this linkage system with agricultural productivity potential. In dry conditions, reduced-tillage StripTilled Chisel Plowed allows row assemblies to move over Besides reducing greenhouse gases, other planting systems preserve moisture stones or uneven surfaces without advantages of increasing or maintaining in the seedbed, enhancing uniform interrupting accurate fertilizer a high level of soil organic matter include germination and plant establishment. placement on adjacent row assemblies. reduced soil erosion, increased resistance Crop residue also is a food source for to compaction, increased biological beneficial fungi, bacteria and insects. Row cleaners clear residue away activity and enhanced soil fertility. from the front of the tillage shank and Managed properly, the beneficial berm-building disks, leaving a clean, Because tillage results in soil carbon loss, aspects of maintaining high levels of tilled strip. Various manufacturers use identifying tillage methods that reduce crop residue with conservation tillage unique proprietary designs to clear the the amount of carbon released into the systems outweigh the negative aspects. tilled area. Row cleaners usually are atmosphere is important. A comparison Strip till leaves most of the previous mounted behind the cutting coulter and study of soil CO2 emissions following year’s crop residue on the soil surface, a few inches ahead of the tillage shank. moldboard plowing, disk ripping protecting new crop plants from wind and strip tilling conducted in 2005 damage during establishment and Strip-till equipment needs to be in Minnesota (Faaborg et al., 2005) continuing to protect the soil if the designed to meter accurately and determined that strip tillage maintained crop fails to establish due to drought or correctly place appropriate amounts more soil carbon than moldboard flood. Crop residue readily decays and of fertilizers in the tilled strips. plowing and disk ripping. is incorporated into soil by earthworms The ability to apply one or more liquid, Disk ripping and strip tillage and other invertebrates when the gaseous or dry fertilizers is an important released 53.2 and 82.6 percent less CO , growing crop canopy covers the design feature of strip-till equipment. 2 space between the rows. respectively, than moldboard plowing The tillage shank penetrates and loosens (Figure 1). Moldboard plowing disturbed soil, and normally is designed with a

2 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production fertilizer injection tube to allow applica- Strip Till and GPS Guidance Crop Production With Strip tion of gaseous, liquid or dry granular Accurate equipment guidance is fertilizers during the strip-tillage Till Effects on Soil Residue important for strip tillage and the operation. Tillage depth is dependent On-farm research from 2010 through 2012 subsequent planting and spraying on the soil type and conditions, and in west-central Minnesota compared four operations, particularly in irregularly the specific crop to be planted. full-sized tillage systems with varying shaped fields. Strip tillage machines can crop residue levels in a corn-soybean Berm-building disks are mounted on be equipped with markers to facilitate rotation. University of Minnesota each side and 6 to 8 inches behind the accurate spacing of rows on each new researchers included chisel plowing tillage shank. The disks can be mounted round in the field, or global positioning with spring field cultivation, disk to mound the strip to promote moisture system (GPS) guidance can be used ripping with spring field cultivation, runoff and facilitate soil drying in the without markers. fall strip tillage and two passes with spring or, alternatively, mounted to GPS positioning accuracy of greater than a shallow vertical tillage implement. create a slight depression in the soil 6 inches pass to pass is recommended. to catch snow and rain to increase The type of tillage significantly affected Real-time kinematic differential soil moisture for the next crop. crop residue levels in this study. Strip correction (RTK) GPS is recommended tillage retained the highest crop residue Conditioning baskets are mounted for positioning accuracy for strip tilling. cover following corn and soybeans, behind each shank to break soil clods and while crop residue cover was similar smooth the soil surface. Some manufac- for the other three tillage treatments. turers use rubber packing and row cleaner wheels instead of conditioning baskets. Large clumps likely indicate that the soil 2010-12 Soybean Yield and Residue Averages is too wet for tillage or adjustments are 2010-12 Soybean Yield and Residue Averages needed on equipment. Some system of 80 80 64 smoothing the soil and breaking clumps 64 60 51 51 50 49 50 is important, particularly if the strip 60 51 51 50 49 50 tilling is done immediately prior to 40 planting. Smoothing the tilled strips 40 is less important if strip tilling is done 20 in the fall because winter weather 20 conditions smooth the soil naturally. 0 0 All components of strip-till machines Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%) Yield Yield (bu/ac) and Residue (%) Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%) usually are mounted on three-point Yield (bu/ac) and Residue (%) Fall Strip Till Vertical Till (2 passes) Chisel Plow and Field Cultivation tool bar attachments directly to tractors Fall Strip Till Vertical Till (2 passes) Chisel Plow and Field Cultivation or assembled as pull-type units with wheels. Pull-type designs are more Figure 2. Average soybean yield and surface residue for three common because they can be used tillage systems near Clarkfield, Minn., during 2010-2012. with wider units.

Power and Energy 2010-12 Corn Yield and Residue Averages Requirements 2010-12 Corn Yield and Residue Averages 175 154 156 153 175 154 156 The power requirement of strip-till equip- 150 153 150 ment varies depending on the equipment 125 125 design, number of row units, components 100 100 used, soil properties, shank depth, field 75 75 43 conditions and operator adjustments. 50 43 32 50 26 32 25 26 The power requirement listed in the 25 0 equipment specifications by several 0 strip-till equipment manufacturers ranges Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%) from 12 to 30 horsepower per row unit. Yield (bu/ac) and Residue (%) Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%) Yield Yield (bu/ac) and Residue (%) Fall Strip Till Vertical Till (2 passes) Disk Rip and Field Cultivation However, because only about one-third Fall Strip Till Vertical Till (2 passes) Disk Rip and Field Cultivation of the field surface is tilled with strip-till equipment, the energy requirement is less Figure 3. Average corn yield and surface residue for three than with conventional tillage systems. tillage systems near Clarkfield, Minn., during 2010-2012.

3 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production Corn and soybean yields were not Averaged across the two years, corn Effects on Soil Temperature affected by the type of tillage system yields were similar among the chisel- Strip-till systems remove residue from the (Table 1), although costs were plowed and strip-tilled fields. These soil surface over the seedbed, resulting in substantially lower with strip tillage. results are the same as those observed soil temperatures similar to conventional in long-term small-plot tillage trials An earlier study in 2004 and 2005 tillage systems. No-till systems leave at Waseca, Minn., where very little compared on-farm corn yields at residue on the soil surface over the differences in yields have been 13 sites across southern and west-central seedbed, and soil temperatures often are observed among tillage systems. Minnesota for chisel plowing plus spring several degrees lower than in tilled soil. field cultivation, strip tillage, one-pass In a separate three-year study during Research by the University of Minnesota spring field cultivation and no till. 2006 to 2008 in southern Minnesota, Extension in southern Minnesota Tillage treatments had a larger effect researchers compared soybean yields (DeJong-Hughes, Stahl) shows an on corn yields during 2004, when air among chisel plowing, strip tillage and aggressive strip-till machine can clear temperatures were cooler than normal, no-till for fields previously planted in away sufficient residue to promote soil than during 2005, when air temperatures strip-tilled corn. The type of tillage had warming similar to moldboard plowing were warmer than normal. no effect on the soybean yields during the in a continuous corn rotation (Table 2). three years. This demonstrates soybean versatility among various tillage systems.

Table 2. Soil temperatures using several different tillage operations in continuous corn. Jeffers, Minn. 2004-2005 Corn Yield and Residue Averages (13 site years) Soil Temperatures at Planting 2004-2005 Corn Yield and Residue Averages (13 site Tillage 2006 2007 240 196years)202 197 201 Moldboard plow 65.3 55.7 200240 168 175 174 177 Disk ripped 62.3 54.7 202 201 160 196 197 Strip till 65.4 54.2 200 168 175 174 177 120160 59 In a corn-soybean rotation, soil 12080 47 29 temperatures were similar for strip till 40 22 80 59 47 and chisel plow and lower for no till 29 400 22 (Table 3). 0 2004 Yield (bu/ac) 2005 Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%)

Yield (bu/ac) amd Residue (%) Residue amd (bu/ac) Yield No2004 Till Yield (bu/ac) 2005 YieldFall (bu/ac)Strip Till Residue (%) Table 3. Soil temperatures at planting Yield (bu/ac) amd Residue (%) Residue amd (bu/ac) Yield NoSpring Till Field Cultivation FallChisel Strip Plow Till and Field Cultivation using different tillage operations in

Spring Field Cultivation Chisel Plow and Field Cultivation soybean/corn rotation. Jeffers, Minn. Figure 4. Average corn yields and surface residue for four tillage systems in southern Minnesota during 2004-2005. Soil Temperatures at Planting, F Tillage 2006 2007 2006-08 Soybean Averages Chisel plow 57.7 69.1 73 No till 55.8 64.9 80 2006-08 Soybean Averages Strip till 58.9 71.5 62 73 6080 53 48 47 45 62 Similarly, research in the Red River Valley 60 53 40 45 48 47 (Prosper, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn.) in 2007 indicated comparable temperatures 40 20 between conventional tillage and strip till (Overstreet et al., 2007). 200

Yield (bu/ac) or Residue (%) Residue or (bu/ac) Yield The soil temperature advantage with 0 Yield (bu/ac) Residue (%) strip till, compared with no till, is that Yield (bu/ac) or Residue (%) Residue or (bu/ac) Yield No-till YieldFall Strip (bu/ac) Till Chisel Plow andResidue Field Cultivation (%) it allows faster plant emergence and development. This advantage is No-till Fall Strip Till Chisel Plow and Field Cultivation enhanced when soil temperatures are lower and approach the lower Figure 5. Average soybean yields and surface residue for four tillage threshold for crop seed germination. systems near Jeffers, Minn., during 2004-2005.

4 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production For example, early planted strip-till Mounting strip-till units on staggered yields for each tillage system were: corn or soybeans likely will emerge bars allows residue to flow between 1) no till with disk openers, 167.8 bushels quicker than corn planted in a no-till strip-till units in narrower row spacing. per acre (bu/acre); 2) no till with hoe system. Earlier plant establishment Strip tillage is used with row crops, openers, 174.2 bu/acre; 3) strip till, normally increases crop yield and such as corn, sugar beets, soybeans, 174.6 bu/acre; and 4) chisel plow plus quality by extending the growth. dry beans and sunflowers. hoe openers, 177.4 bu/acre (Figure 7). The strip-tilled fields had an average of Earlier emergence and stand establish- Corn 55 percent residue cover and the one-pass ment also promote quicker crop canopy The University of Minnesota Extension system had 30 percent residue cover. closure, reducing mid- and late-season (J. DeJong-Hughes, J. Vetsch) compared weed seed germination and providing In the warmer-than-normal 2005 four tillage systems for corn following a better chance for young plants to growing season, corn yields were soybeans on farm fields in 2004 and establish and withstand disease and affected significantly by tillage 2005 using producer-owned commercial insect pressure with minimal damage. treatments at only one of nine sites. tillage equipment. Corn grain yields were Yields were: 1) no till with disk affected significantly by tillage treatments openers, 195.8 bu/acre; 2) strip till, at six of the 10 sites in the cool growing Effects on Soil Moisture 202.2 bu/acre; 3) no till with hoe season of 2004. Strip tillage conserves soil moisture by openers, 196.5 bu/acre; and 4) chisel trapping winter snow and reducing plow plus hoe openers, 200.5 bu/acre. Averaged across sites with the four evaporation and transpiration loss similar tillage treatments, corn grain (Figures 6), resulting in more soil moisture available for plants, particularly 06/21/07 PROSPER 50 later in the growing season during the 45 critical plant reproductive stages. 40 06/21/07 PROSPER 50 Figure 6 illustrates additional soil 35 3045 moisture present with strip till, 40 06/21/07 06/21/07 PROSPER PROSPER 2550 50 35 compared with conventional till 2045 45 30 (Overstreet et al., 2007). 1540 40 103525 35 03020 30 BEET BEANS WHEAT CORN 2515 25 When to Strip Till 2010 20 150 15 07/03/07 PROSPER 50 BEET BEANS WHEAT CORN In the northern Great Plains, strip 10 10 450 0 BEET BEETBEANS BEANS WHEAT WHEAT CORN CORN tillage with fertilizer application 40 07/03/07 PROSPER 3550 usually is performed in the fall, 07/03/07 07/03/07 PROSPER PROSPER 305045 50 followed by spring planting. 4540 45 25 40 40 Fall tillage allows time for the soil in 2035 35 35 1530 the berm to smooth during the winter 30 30 1025 Strips in fall Strips in spring 25 25 and warm as soon as the weather allows 20 StripsStrips(photo in fall in fall by John Nowatzki) StripsStrips in spring(photo in spring by John Nowatzki) 020 20 15 BEET BEANS WHEAT CORN in the spring before crop planting. 15 15 StripTilled1010 10 Chisel Plowed 00 0 Strip-tillage operations can be BEETBEET BEET BEANSBEANS BEANS WHEAT WHEAT WHEAT CORN CORNCORN performed in the spring in regions StripTilledStripTilledStripTilled Chisel Chisel Plowed Chisel Plowed Plowed with coarse-textured and lower organic Figure Figure 6. Percent 6. Percent moisture in moisturestrip-tilled and in chisel strip-plowed tilled soil. and chisel plowed soil. matter content soils. Research conducted in 2007 on loam soil at Carrington, N.D., Figure 6. Percent moisture in strip-tilled and chisel-plowed soil. indicates similar crop yield between fall and spring strip tillage. 2004 2005 250

200 2004 2005 Strip-till Practices 250 196 202 197 201 150 for Crop Production 175 174 177 200 168 Research indicates strip tillage works 100 196 202 197 201 150 well for crops grown with 30-inch row 168 175 174 177 50 spacing; however, narrower row spacings 100 also work, but residue management is 0 more difficult with less space for residue. 50 NT ST One Pass CP+

Figure0 7. Corn yields with various tillage systems. NT ST One Pass CP+

5 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production The trials in 2005 demonstrated that no compared with strip till. Corn was x till and strip till produced excellent corn grown in 22-inch rows at the Red River x 135 132 135 average yields while maintaining adequate resi- Valley sites. At Fargo, the trial was 6 site-year due cover to protect the soil from erosion. conducted on a silty clay loam soil. x x Continuous corn systems produce Rainfall from planting until mid-June x 153 159 average higher residue levels, requiring more was nearly continuous, resulting in 12 site-year

precise management. The University of reduced soil nitrogen (N) and corn yield. —

Minnesota began research in southern x NS 2012 202 209 209

Minnesota in 2006 to study the effects Carrington Dry Edible Beans — of high-residue systems during several Dry edible bean production using strip years. This research uses moldboard till significantly reduces soil erosion x x plowing, disk ripping and strip till on potential, compared with conventional 9 154 164 a continuous corn field to study the tillage. Moisture conservation is an Moorhead effects of residue placement on seedling additional benefit in arid areas. x x 9 ————————— 179 209 emergence, soil temperature and grain Prosper yield. The soil at the site is a heavy clay The obvious disadvantage with strip- 2010

till beans is changing harvest strategies. x loam, with poor internal drainage and NS 200 190 196 Fargo no tile drainage. Strip-till edible beans require direct harvest, which potentially increases x NS 164 172 Residue levels varied with the harvest loss. However, reduced 167 ————————— aggressiveness of the tillage operation. harvesting equipment, time and labor, Carrington

Moldboard plowing left 10 percent and potentially improved seed quality residue cover, disk ripping left 34 percent may offset increased harvest losses. x x 9 168 194 and strip tilling left almost 50 percent Preliminary data in 2007 by NDSU ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Moorhead residue on the soil surface. researchers at Carrington with fall x x 9 ————————— 184 strip-till pinto beans indicate potential 203 In 2006, the yields were similar for all Prosper

for seed yield increase, compared with bushels/acre three tillage systems (Table 4). In the 2009

conventionally tilled bean (Table 6). x NS 156 149 146 fall of 2007, six more field trials were Fargo established using the same procedures Soybeans described above. Researchers will x 95 93 91 Production advantages may be gained NS ————————— continue to evaluate the residue Carrington buildup and its effects on yield. with strip till use for soybeans in arid areas because of moisture conservation or if the crop is planted early because x x 9 163 197

of warmer soils, compared with no till. Moorhead

Table 4. Corn yields from various ——————— NDSU research during 2005-2007 x x tillage systems in southern Minnesota. 9 2008 205 indicated similar soybean yield with 230 Prosper Corn Yields – bu/acre strip till, compared with conventional x till or no till (Endres, Franzen and 96

Moldboard plow 149.9 NS 110 104

Overstreet, 2007) (Table 7). Carrington Disk ripped 139.9 ——————— Strip till 148.4 The University of Minnesota Extension conducted research in southern x x 9 157 NDSU research conducted in 2007 146

Minnesota comparing three tillage Moorhead indicated similar corn yield with strip systems for soybeans following corn x x 9

till, compared with conventional till, ————————— 167 on residue levels, soil temperatures and 150 and an advantage with strip-till yield, Prosper

soybean yields in strip till, chisel plow 2007 compared with no till (Endres, Franzen

and no till (J. DeJong-Hughes, L. Stahl). x 81 73 85 9.2 and Overstreet) (Table 5). In 2006, the no-till fields yielded Fargo At Carrington, corn was grown in slightly less than the chisel-plowed NS 156 140 167 and strip-tilled trials. In 2007, the yields 161 ————————— ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 30-inch rows on a loam soil with Carrington adequate soil moisture available were similar, reflecting the versatility during the reproductive stages. of soybeans in a variety of management systems (Table 7).

Plant emergence and silking were 2012. 2007-10, NDSU, systems, Corn grain yield with tillage delayed one to three days with no till,

Tillage system LSD (0.05) Conventional No-till Strip till (spring) Strip till (fall) Table 5. Table

6 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production Sugar Beets Sunflowers x x 26.1 27.4 28.6 average

6 site-year NDSU research with sugar beets grown Sunflower production using strip till is in 22-inch rows was conducted during limited in the northern regions of the U.S. x x x 2005-2007 at several Red River Valley Research trials and commercial produc- 35.1 37.1 average 12 site-year locations (Franzen and Overstreet, tion using strip till in Kansas indicate 2007). Sugar beet yields were similar promise for sunflowers (Olson et al., 2005). x x

NS among tillage systems in two of the 37.0 45.6

Moorhead Two years of research during 2006-2007 three years (Table 8). Strip-till yields by NDSU at Carrington (Endres et al.) were approximately the same as x x ————————— NS 51.4 51.7 have indicated similar sunflower perfor- Prosper conventionally tilled plots.

2010 mance for seed yield and quality among

x tillage systems, including strip till. Yield NS Fargo 42.4 47.8 49.8 was not significantly different between fall and spring strip tilling (Table 9). x 3.0 47.5 50.1 51.7 ————————— Carrington

Table 6. Dry bean seed yield with tillage systems, Carrington, 2007, 2009-12. x x 3.7 30.2 24.2

Moorhead 5 site-year Tillage system 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 average x x ————————— 3.7 39.7 47.7 Conventional 1820 2533 2949 2066 3752 2624 Prosper Direct-seed (no-till) 1886 2074 2824 1993 3429 2441 2009 Strip till (fall) 2129 2286 3069 1844 3632 2592 x NS Fargo 24.2 20.1 18.1 LSD (0.05) 209 306 NS 217 NS x ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— x NS 24.5 26.4 26.5 ————————— Carrington Table 8. Sugar beet yields with various tillage systems.

bushels/acre

Prosper and 3- site 5-site Fargo Moorhead average average x x 3.7 36.5 44.2 1

Moorhead Tillage system 2005 2006 2007 2007 (Fargo) —————— ———————–––——— Sugar Beet Yield tons/acre ———————–––——— x x NS 2008 55.6 53.3 Prosper Conventional 12.9 24.0 22.1 30.0 19.7 22.3 No till 16.6 23.4 22.1 – 20.7 –

x Strip till 15.0 23.9 22.7 29.6 20.5 22.8 3.0 Fargo 21.6 26.5 27.7 —————— LSD (0.05) 3.2 NS2 NS2 NS2 – –

1 Previous crop: Fargo = soybeans; Prosper and Moorhead = wheat. 2 Not a significant yield difference. x x ——— NS 31.7 29.7 Moorhead 2007 x x Table 9. Sunflower seed yield with tillage systems, Carrington, 2008-11. NS 52.2 49.0 ——— Prosper Tillage system 2006 2007 2008 2009 4-year avg.

Conventional 1160 1040 1173 733 1027

x No-till 1338 956 1253 730 1069 NS ——— Fargo 25.0 20.9 23.9 Strip till (fall) 1134 1086 1457 823 1125 2006 LSD (0.05) NS NS NS NS x NS 16.2 18.1 18.4 18.4 ——— Carrington

x NS ——— Fargo 25.9 29.7 25.3 2005

x NS 21.7 22.6 23.4 ——— ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Carrington Soybean seed yield with tillage systems, NDSU, 2005-10. NDSU, seed yield with tillage systems, Soybean

Tillage system Conventional

No-till Strip till (fall) Strip till (spring) LSD (0.05) Table 7. Table

7 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production General Fertilizer The annual ownership cost of the Table 12. Operating costs include 24-row tiller is estimated to be $5,354, fuel, lubrication, repairs and labor. Considerations or $5.35 per acre, based on an estimated The total operating cost is $3 per acre Phosphorus and potassium can be annual use on 1,000 acres. The lower- for the 24-row equipment and $4.24 band-applied during the strip-till investment six-row tiller would have per acre for the six-row equipment. operation. Banding phosphorus and an estimated annual ownership cost of Total costs are summarized in Table 13. potassium allows for a rate reduction $571, or $1.43 per acre, based on annual The total cost per acre for the 24-row of one-third, compared with broadcast usage of 400 acres. application on a medium or low-testing equipment, including the power unit, soil (University of Minnesota Fertilizer The operating costs of 24-row and is estimated to be $10.42 per acre. Recommendations, 2001). Phosphorus six-row equipment are shown in and potassium also can be applied to crops as starter fertilizer with the planter. Table 10. Estimated cost and use factors for strip-till equipment. Nitrogen also can be applied using strip-till equipment. However, fall Strip Tiller Strip-till Tool Bar Machine 24-row – 22” 6-row – 30” nitrogen application is not recommended in sandier, lighter soils or in the Estimated life – years 15 15 Annual use – acres 1,000 400 eastern half of Minnesota. Nitrogen Purchase price $65,000 $6,000 can be applied as a starter fertilizer and Salvage value $20,000 $0 side dressed later in the growing season. Interest rate (ROI) 5.0% 5.0 % Storage space – sq. ft. 0.0 0.0 Tractor HP 425.0 160.0 Economics of Strip Till Comparing the economics of strip-till Table 11. Ownership (fixed) costs of alternative strip-till equipment. production to conventional production involves changes in production costs that 24-row – 22” 6-row – 30” can be evaluated using a partial budget. Ownership Annual Cost/ Annual Cost/ (fixed) Costs Cost acre Cost acre What is different and therefore needs Depreciation $3,000.00 $3.00 $400.00 $1.00 to be included in the partial budget? Interest on investment $2,200.00 $2.20 $160.00 $0.40 Strip till should eliminate the need for Insurance $154.00 $0.15 $11.20 $0.03 whole-field primary and secondary Total ownership costs $5,354.00 $5.35 $571.20 $1.43 tillage but may require a chemical burn-down operation that would not Table 12. Operating (variable) costs of alternative strip-till equipment. be necessary under conventional tillage. Also, adding Global Positioning 24-row – 22” 6-row – 30” System (GPS) guidance equipment Operating (variable) cost Tiller Tractor $/acre Tiller Tractor $/acre may be beneficial. Fuel – gallons per hour 16.27 $48.81 $1.69 6.12 $18.37 $1.87 Price/gallon $3.00 xxx $3.00 xxx Costs that do not change may be Oil, lube and filters $0.17 $0.19 ignored. These include the planting Repairs – parts, labor $0.60 $0.12 $0.72 $0.60 $0.36 $0.96 and harvesting operations, and any Operating labor – hours 0.03 xxx 0.10 xxx postharvest operations. Labor wage/hour $12.00 $0.42 $12.00 $1.22 Total operating costs $3.00 $4.24 Converting to strip-till production involves investment in different equipment that results in changes to Table 13. Total cost per acre for alternative strip-till equipment. fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs Factors 24-row – 22” 6-row – 30” are based on initial investment. Tractor ownership cost ($/hr.) $59.37 $22.73 The expected use in acres for a 24-row Machine width (ft.) 44 15 pull-type tiller and a six-row tool bar Travel speed (mph) 6 6 tiller are shown in Table 10. Table 11 Acres per hour 28.8 9.82 shows the ownership costs in detail. Tractor repair cost ($/hr.) $3.57 $3.53 Total machine cost ($/ac) $8.36 $5.67 Tractor ownership costs ($/ac) $2.06 $2.32 Total cost ($/ac) $10.42

8 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production The total cost for the six-row equipment are not sold, the appropriate reduction and power unit is estimated at $7.98 per in cost to apply is the use-related cost acre. The smaller equipment has higher of $5.18 per acre for chisel plowing and Management Tips operating costs but considerably lower $2.97 per acre for field cultivating. for Strip Tillage fixed costs. A partial budget summary is shown • Match the strip-till row width Converting to a strip-till method of in Table 15. Additional costs for strip with the planter row width. production from conventional tillage tillage include machinery ownership • Leave corn stubble standing will eliminate expenses associated with and operation costs, chemical burn-down for maximum air movement primary and secondary tillage. Table 14 and a ground-spraying operation. and less matting of residue. summarizes total and use-related cost for Reduced costs include eliminating chisel plowing, field cultivation chisel plowing and field cultivation. Build strips between the and ground spraying. The estimated change in per-acre costs previous crop rows. would be an increase of $12.03 per acre The difference between total cost • For the greatest soil warmup for the 24-row equipment and an and use-related cost is interest on the and seed-to-soil contact, strip increase of $9.59 per acre for the investment and part of the depreciation. tillage should be performed six-row equipment. If the chisel plow and field cultivator in the fall.

• In cooler, fine-textured soils, strip-till equipment should clear the berm to less than 10 percent Table 14. Cost of conventional tillage operations ($/ac). residue for faster soil warming Field Operation Total Cost Use-related Cost in the spring.

Chisel plow $7.10 $5.18 • In high-moisture conditions, Field cultivator $3.97 $2.97 Ground sprayer $5.39 $3.76 build berms approximately 3 inches high in the fall so they are at least 1 inch high Table 15. Strip till vs. conventional till: a partial budget. by planting. In arid conditions, High Low berms can be depressed to Investment Investment collect winter snow. Additional costs Machinery ($/ac) $10.42 $7.98 • The economic advantages Chemical application ($/ac) $3.76 $3.76 of strip till are improved if Chemical ($/ac) $6.00 $6.00 Reduced costs banding phosphorus and Chisel plow 1x ($/ac) -$5.18 -$5.18 potassium fertilizer with Field cultivator 1x ($/ac) -$2.97 -$2.97 the fall strip operation. Change in costs ($/ac) $12.03 $9.59 • Avoid slopes of more than 7 percent without contouring; otherwise, soil erosion can occur in tilled strips.

9 • AE1370 Strip Till for Field Crop Production References

Faaborg, R., C. Wente, J.M. De Jong-Hughes and D.C. Reicosky. 2005. A comparison

of soil CO2 emissions following moldboard plowing, disk ripping and strip tilling. USDA-ARS research update. Overstreet, L.F., D. Franzen, N.R. Cattanach and S. Gegner. 2007. Strip-tillage in sugarbeet rotations. In 2007 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Vol. 38. Sugarbeet Res. And Ed. BD. of MN and ND. Olson, B., J. Falk and R. Aiken. 2007. Sunflower yield as affected by strip-till. National Sunflower Association 2007 Research Forum. University of Minnesota Extension “Machinery Cost Estimates.” September 2007. Endres, G., and B. Schatz. 2007 Carrington Research Extension Center Annual Report. DeJong-Hughes, J., and J. Vetsch. (2007) On-farm comparison of conservation tillage systems for corn following soybeans. University of Minnesota Extension Publication BU-08483.

This publication was authored by John Nowatzki, NDSU Extension agricultural machine systems specialist; Greg Endres, NDSU Extension area cropping systems specialist; Jodi DeJong-Hughes, University of Minnesota Extension regional educator; and Dwight Aakre, retired NDSU Extension farm management specialist.

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