Planting in Wet Soils

Amy Timmerman, Extension Educator Author

05/06/2024 Added

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We all appreciate the precipitation we are receiving to help refill field capacities but it is hampering how quickly we are planting.

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[00:00:01.079]This is Amy Timmerman with today’s Extension Update.
[00:00:04.521]We all appreciate the precipitation we are receiving to help refill field capacities
[00:00:09.865]but it is hampering how quickly we are planting.
[00:00:13.113]On a positive note, it is early and we still
[00:00:16.483]have several weeks to get everything into the ground.
[00:00:19.274]But for some there may be no choice but to plant into wet soils this spring.
[00:00:24.103]Side-wall compaction occurs when the planter or drill disc openers
[00:00:27.623]smear the sides of the trench that is opened for seed placement.
[00:00:31.394]Soils with moisture contents near and around field capacity
[00:00:34.994]have the greatest potentials for side-wall compaction.
[00:00:38.887]Soil texture which is the percentage of sand, silt and clay will also influence
[00:00:44.427]the susceptibility of compaction depending on soil moisture content.
[00:00:48.427]It is important to note that fields with sand soil texture actually
[00:00:52.078]need less percentage of soil moisture for compaction to occur.
[00:00:56.290]Sand soils only need 15% soil moisture vs clay textures soils which need
[00:01:02.628]35% soil moisture for compaction to occur.
[00:01:06.688]Fields with variable soil textures will cause differing levels of
[00:01:10.688]side-wall compaction; this makes it very important to know how to adjust planter settings.
[00:01:16.459]Even if the planter has automatic adjustments, one should still have
[00:01:20.329]concern for the degree of change the planter can have.
[00:01:24.329]Wet soils do not need as much downforce as dry soils unless compacted.
[00:01:29.496]Damp residues will require more downforce to cut through.
[00:01:33.220]If there was ever a time to have new disc openers
[00:01:37.220]on your planters or drills, this may be the one those years.
[00:01:41.701]So what do we do for planter adjustments from front to back
[00:01:45.831]1. Proper hitch height.
[00:01:48.497]Review planter or drill owner’s manual for recommended height.
[00:01:52.760]2. Residue managers or furrow openers.
[00:01:56.760]Operating too deep will uncover wetter soil and make the subsequent
[00:02:00.174]planter process much harder to perform.
[00:02:02.664]In wet soils try running residue managers higher
[00:02:06.456]and permit the openers to cut residues.
[00:02:09.486]3. Cutting residues.
[00:02:12.036]It is important to have sharp or newer disk
[00:02:14.036]openers adjusted with correct spacing.
[00:02:16.883]4. Proper down pressure on disk openers.
[00:02:20.883]Openers should consistently penetrate the soil to desired
[00:02:23.826]planting depth without excessive pressure.
[00:02:26.664]Check pressure on depth gauge wheels.
[00:02:29.218]One should just be able to turn gauge wheels
[00:02:31.280]with some force when the planter is in the soil.
[00:02:35.269]5. Seed firming.
[00:02:37.644]A good seed firmer is very important.
[00:02:39.804]Keeping the seed in the trench but
[00:02:41.443]placing it at the bottom of the trench
[00:02:43.267]is very important for even emergence.
[00:02:46.260]6. Side-wall and furrow closing.
[00:02:49.465]With properly firmed seed, furrow closing is not as important,
[00:02:53.683]however the seed trench should not open when the soil dries.
[00:02:57.613]The concept is to remove the side-wall and place
[00:03:00.453]crumbly soil over the correctly placed seed.
[00:03:03.546]Seed furrow closing wheels that have notched or spiked design
[00:03:07.038]reduce compaction as compared with smoother designs.
[00:03:10.975]This is especially important as bare soil within the row
[00:03:14.205]is increased with residue managers.
[00:03:16.858]And finally 7. Drag chain.
[00:03:19.498]This is older technology, but in some soils a drag chain
[00:03:23.262]can consistently pull a small amount of soil and help crumble it over the seed.
[00:03:29.806]Despite the soil conditions when planting seeds,
[00:03:32.486]the correct planter or drill adjustment is very important.
[00:03:36.029]Now is the time to consider these planter adjustments because the
[00:03:39.479]window of time available for in-field planting operations may be limited.
[00:03:43.816]If you have any questions please reach out to your local extension office.
[00:03:47.816]This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.

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Planting in Wet Soils

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