This topic focuses on the post-harvest management of corn, canola and cereals, where the goal is to bring the seedbank to germination, while helping the residue to decompose as fast as possible. A reduced seedbank improves the competitiveness of the following crop and may reduce the cost of herbicides.
Many seeds and weeds are triggered by light. If buried too deep, they can stay dormant in the soil for many years. By providing good seed-to-soil contact with access to light, ultra-shallow tillage makes sure the seeds will germinate when you want them to...not years later. These plants can later be eliminated with a second pass to provide great field hygiene for the next crop.
According to research, the depth of weed and grain seeds directly affects the time needed for the seeds to germinate, emerge and grow. By reducing the time spent on waiting for these seeds to emerge enough to be eliminated, you can drill the following crop sooner. Alternatively, this additional time provides great opportunities for increasing the yield potential by conducting value-adding fieldwork before the next crop establishment.
1. Weed days until emergence
2. Canola days until emergence
3. Wheat days until emergence
After cover crops and corn silage, the mulching and incorporation of crop residue is crucial for success. To increase the tillage 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.
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-inch depths 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.
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.
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.
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.
