Ultra-shallow tillage with CrossCutter Disc

Cleaner fields with increased yield potential

After harvesting corn, canola or cereal crops, a goal of many farmers is to germinate the seed bank while getting residue  to decompose as quickly as possible. A reduced seed bank improves the competitiveness of the following crop and may reduce the cost of herbicides. Ultra shallow tillage is also tested as a partial solution when glyphosate is not able to be used.

Fight weeds efficiently

Many weed seeds are triggered by light. If buried too deep, they can stay dormant in the soil for many years. The CrossCutter disc throws the material upward, allowing it to sort when falling down. The lightest material, such as weed seeds, will then land on the surface where they encounter optimal conditions for fast germination. The stale seedbed can later be eliminated with a second pass to provide excellent field hygiene for the next crop.

Don’t waste time on your stale seedbed

According to research, the depth of seeds, including canola, grain or weeds, directly affects the time needed for the seeds in the stale seedbed to germinate and emerge.

By reducing the time spent waiting for the stale seedbed to emerge enough to be eliminated, farmers can plant the following crop sooner. 

CrossCutter Disc provides better incorporation and mulching

Mulching and incorporating crop residue is crucial for success after cover crops and silage corn. To increase the cultivation intensity, the CrossCutter Disc can be combined with the CrossCutter Knife knife roller. Using an aggressive packer, such as a SteelRunner, will further improve the cultivation effect.

Complete cover crop elimination

When terminating a standing cover crop, a full cut-out at ultra-shallow working depth provides high capacity and great agronomic benefits. Working intensively at 0- to 1.25-inch depths (0-3 cm) can crush and mulch the cover crops without mixing the residues deeply. After one pass, the cover crop stems are crushed and access points for microorganisms are created. This fully eliminates the cover crop, while also minimizing the risk for problems in the following crop.

Excellent after silage corn

After corn silage, two main objectives need to be fulfilled: destroy the habitat for the European corn borer, and avoid the creation of mycotoxins that can be transferred to the following crop. The CrossCutter Disc will achieve both tasks at a very low cost by increasing the breakdown rate compared to chopping the residue. Another advantage over a mulcher is that the CrossCutter Disc also handles residue in the wheel tracks.

Moisture and structure conservation – When less is more

By cutting in its entire working horizon, the CrossCutter Disc helps conserve valuable ground moisture for the coming crop. The ultra-shallow working depth ensures that a minimum amount of soil is dried out, while the high amount of residue left in the topsoil helps reflect sunlight to further conserve moisture.

Reduced erosion

By working ultra-shallow, a minimal amount of soil gets loosened and vulnerable to erosion. This is crucial in hilly conditions as well as on farming conditions where wind erosion appears. The large amount of residue mixed in the topsoil absorbs the impact of raindrops, which prevents runoff and eliminates the risk of crusting the soil.

Minimal disturbance of beneficial organisms

The ultra-shallow tillage in the dry topsoil leads to minimal earthworm losses, while helping promote ideal soil moisture conditions to make earthworms more active.

Leaving residue in the topsoil benefits the earthworm activity, increasing the rate of decomposition even further. During this process, the earthworms fertilize the soil and give the next crop a better environment.