ConservationSeeding Practices

John NowatzkiExtension Ag Machine Systems Specialist

History

Langdon Average Temp Increase 2°Since 1903

Growing Season 12 days longer

Air Seeder Principles and Functions

Basic Criteria for Effective SeedersOpener Design & Seed/Fertilizer

PlacementManaging Crop ResidueSoil DisturbanceDepth ControlVarying ConditionsPrecision Agriculture Energy Requirements

Channel Setting Instructions for ResponseCard RF

1. Press and release the "GO" or "CH" button.

2. While the light is flashing red and green, enter the 2 digit channel code (i.e. channel 1 = 01, channel 21 = 21).

Channel is 41

3. After the second digit is entered, Press and release the "GO" or "CH" button. The light should flash green to confirm.

4. Press and release the "1/A" button. The light should flash amber to confirm.

Where is Your Home Area?

1 2 3 4 5 6

0 0 0000

1. North Dakota2. South Dakota3. Manitoba4. Saskatchewan5. Montana6. Other

What is your Occupation?

1 2 3 4

0 000

1. Farmer/Rancher2. Dealer Personnel3. Factory Personnel4. Other

Which crops do you grow?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 0 0 000000

1. Barley2. Buckwheat3. Canola4. Corn5. Dry Edible Beans6. Field Peas7. Flax8. Lentils9. Millet10. Mustard

Which crops do you grow?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0 0 0 0 000000

1. Oats2. Potatoes3. Rye4. Safflower5. Soybeans6. Sugarbeets7. Sunflower8. Wheat, Durum9. Winter Wheat10. Other

What is your tillage system?

1 2 3 4 5

0 0 000

1. Intensive Tillage2. Minimum Tillage3. One-Pass System4. No Till5. Other

Basic Criteria for Effective Seeders

1. Precisely Meter Seeds2. Plant Seed at Uniform Depth3. Plant Through Residue4. Function in Varying Soil Types5. Durable6. Economical7. Correctly Place Fertilizer and Seed

Basic Criteria for Effective Seeders

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

0% 0% 0% 0%0%0%0%0%

1. Precisely Meter Seeds2. Plant Seed at Uniform

Depth3. Plant Through Residue4. Function in Varying

Soil Types5. Durable6. Economical7. Correctly Place

Fertilizer and Seed8. Other

Factors Affecting Choice of Opener Type

• Soil Type and Conditions• Crop Residue

• Amount, Type, Position• Crops to Plant• Producer Management Goals

Factors Affecting Choice of Opener Type

High-disturbance

Low-disturbance

Opener Disturbance65% - STIR = 16.9

25% - STIR = 4.87

15% - STIR = 2.43

15% - STIR = 1.95

35% - STIR = 5.68

What Type of Opener do you use?

1 2 3 4

0 000

1. Disc Opener2. Hoe Opener3. Combination4. Other

Choice of Opener Type: Seed to Soil Contact

Water Transfer from Soil to Seed: The Role of Vapor Transport

Water Transfer from Soil to Seed: The Role of Vapor TransportStewart B. Wuest. USDA-ARS, Pendleton, OR

Vapor alone is sufficient to supply water for germination.

Choice of Opener Type: Seed to Soil Contact

Water Transfer from Soil to Seed: The Role of Vapor Transport

Water Transfer from Soil to Seed: The Role of Vapor TransportStewart B. Wuest. USDA-ARS, Pendleton, OR

Vapor alone is sufficient to supply water for germination.

Barley, pea, mustard, and wheat were tested for their ability to germinate rapidly with vapor alone.

Opener DesignProducer Management Goals: Hoe vs. Disc

Disc Openers – Leaves Residue Standing

• Slow Soil Warming (Cooling)• Maintains Soil Moisture

Hoe Openers – Mixes Residue into Soil

• Promotes Soil Warming and Drying

• Promotes Residue Decomposition

• Place Seed into Moist Soil

Opener DesignSeed and Fertilizer Placement

• Factors Affecting Amount of N with the Seed• Distance between Rows• Distribution of Seed and Fertilizer• Soil Texture, Soil pH• Soil Moisture• Fertilizer Placement • Type of Fertilizer • Crop

Greater risk of nitrogen toxicity in sandy soils than in clay soils

Opener DesignSeparate Fertilizer Placement Systems

Banding Fertilizer• Beside Seed• Below Seed

Mid-row Banding - FertilizerDouble Shooting Fertilizer

• Below and to Side of Seed

• Beside SeedBarton™ Double-shoot

Opener DesignSeparate Fertilizer Placement Systems

• 30 lb./acre of N - wheat• 10-20 lb./a of N - Canola

• Mid-row banding • P too far from the

plants to deliver a “starter” effect to young plants? Fertilizer banded more than a few inches

from the seed row may not be available to the plant until the tillering stage when crown roots develop (Washington State University)

Opener DesignPaired-row vs. Single Row Spacing

• Wheat Plant

Lateral spread - 5 inches

Depth – 6 inches

30 days after planting

Early fertilizer access improves tiller survival where soils have low nutrient levels.

Yield increases in wheat by banding below the seed compared to banded between seed rows.

Opener DesignPaired-row vs. Single Row Spacing

• Wheat Plant

Lateral spread - 5 inches

Depth – 6 inches

30 days after plantingPaired-row• Fertilizer band between wheat rows within

2” to 3” of each seed row• 2” below seed

Opener Design Preferences?

1 2 3 4 5 6

0% 0% 0%0%0%0%

1. Separate Fertilizer Placement

2. Starter Fertilizer with Seed

3. All Fertilizer with Seed4. Paired Row - Fertilizer

Between Rows5. Fertilizer Below Seed6. Other

Managing Crop Residue

• Residue is a Resource to Conserve and Use.• Limits Evaporation• Preserves Moisture• Maintains Humidity in Soil• Food for Beneficial Fungi,

Bacteria, Insects

Managing Crop Residue at Harvest Time• Spread Straw Uniformly• Harrows

• Incorporate Weeds Seeds• Increases Seed Longevity

• Disc Openers• Leave Tall Stubble

• How Opener – Shorter Stubble• Residue No Longer than Planter Row

Width

Managing Crop ResidueEffect of Corn Residue Placement on Wheat YieldResidue Placement Wheat Yield (bu/ac)

random coverage 73.80.25 inches away 75.40.50 inches away 73.10.75 inches away 75.01.25 inches away 72.0

Bare Soil 81.9

Residue Placement to Improve Yields of No-Tillage Winter Wheat Following Corn John H. Grove and Christopher E. Kiger, Agronomy Dept., Univ. of KY 1987

one

NDSU Residue Management Project Golden Valley

CountyStutsman County Cass County

Soil name Amor loam Barnes-Buse loam Glyndon silt loam Tillage System No-till (20+ years) No-till 10 years ConventionalCrop Rotation wheat-corn-pea-

wheatwheat-soybean-soybean-wheat-soybean-soybean-corn-dry bean-corn

sugarbeet-wheat-soybean or corn

• Started in 2010• Electronic Sensors• Data on Internet• Updated Daily

Stripper Header

one

NDSU Residue Management Project

• Tall Stubble – 24”• Medium Stubble – 12”• Short Stubble – 6”

NDSU Residue Management Project

Short

Medium

35 to 40% Standing

13% Standing

Tall

100% Standing

Data Transfer• Cellular Modem• Remote Computer calls Modem• FTP Data to NDSU Server Computer• Updated Data on Internet

http://www.ageng.ndsu.nodak.edu/farmmonitor

Residue Management Project - Winter

January 2011

Medium

Tall

Short

January 2011

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Average TemperaturesStutsman CountyDec. 1 - March 1

2011-12

Air Temperature Tall Stubble Temperature

Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble TemperatureAverage Temp 22°F Average Temp 29°F

Average Temp 29°F Average Temp 29°F

Crop Residue – Winter Temperature 2011-12

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Average TemperaturesCass County

Dec. 1 - March 12011-2012

Air Temperature Medium Stubble Temperature

Short Stubble Temperature Chisel Plowed Temperature

Ridge Tilled Temperature

Average 22°F Average 29°F

Average 27°F Average 28°FAverage 25°F

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Average TemperaturesGolden Valley County

Dec. 1 - March 12011-2012

Air Temperature Tall Stubble Temperature

Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble TemperatureAverage 24°F Average 28°F

Average 27°FAverage 27°F

SimilarSoil Temperatures

without Snow

Ridge TillColdest

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50Air Temperature Tall Stubble Temperature

Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble Temperature

Strip Till Temperature

Average 8°F

Average 32°F

Average 33°F

Average 30°F

Average 32°F

Average TemperaturesCass County

Dec. 1 - March 12010-2011

Crop Residue – Winter Temperature 2010-11

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Average TemperatureGolden Valley County

Dec. 1 - March 12010-2011

Air Temperature Tall Stubble Temperature

Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble TemperatureAverage 14°F Average 32°F

Average 31°F Average 26°F

12/1/10

12/5/10

12/9/10

12/13/10

12/17/10

12/21/10

12/25/10

12/29/10

1/2/11

1/6/11

1/10/11

1/14/11

1/18/11

1/22/11

1/26/11

1/30/11

2/3/11

2/7/11

2/11/11

2/15/11

2/19/11

2/23/11

2/27/11

3/3/11

3/7/11

3/11/11

3/15/11

3/19/11

3/23/11

3/27/11

3/31/11

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50Air Temperature Tall Stubble Temperature

Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble TemperatureAverage Temp 12°F Average Temp 32°F

Average Temp 32°F Average Temp 32°F

Average TemperaturesStutsman CountyDec. 1 – March 1

2010-2011

SimilarSoil Temperatures

with Snow

Crop Residue – Spring 2011 Soil Temperature

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Soil TemperatureGolden Valley County

April 1-302011

Tall Stubble Temperature Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble Temperature

Average 40 Average 41 Average 42

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Soil TemperaturesStutsman County

April 1-302011

Tall Stubble Temperature Medium Stubble Temperature Short Stubble Temperature Average 39 Average 42 Average 39

04/01/1

1

04/03/1

1

04/05/1

1

04/07/1

1

04/09/1

1

04/11/1

1

04/13/1

1

04/15/1

1

04/17/1

1

04/19/1

1

04/21/1

1

04/23/1

1

04/25/1

1

04/27/1

1

04/29/1

10

10

20

30

40

50

60

Soil TemperaturesCass CountyApril 1-30

2011

Tall Stubble Temperature Medium Stubble TemperatureShort Stubble Temperature Strip Till Temperature

Average 42 Average 41

Average 40 Average 42

Soybeans

Sugarbeets

Prevent Plant

No Difference inTemperatures

Crop Residue – Spring 2011 Soil Moisture

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

45.00

50.00

Soil MoistureStutsman CountyApr. 1 - June 30

2011

Tall Stubble Moisture Medium Stubble Moisture Short Stubble Moisture

Average 32% VWC Average 31% VWC Average 30% VWC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Soil MoistureGolden Valley County

Apr. 1 - June 302011

Tall Stubble Moisture Medium Stubble Temperature Short Subble Moisture

Average 18% VWC Average 17% VWC Average 18% VWC

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Soil MoistureCass County

Apr. 1 - June 302011

Tall Stubble Moisture Medium Stubble Moisture Short Stubble Moisture

Strip Till MoistureAverage 38% VWC

Average 46% VWC

Average 41% VWC

Average 34% VWC

Soybeans

Sugarbeets

Prevent Plant

Short StubbleDrier

Strip TillDrier

Similar

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

45.00

Soil MoistureStutsman CountyOct. 1 - Nov. 15

2011

Tall Stubble Moisture Medium Stubble MoistureShort Stubble Moisture

Crop Residue – Fall 2011 Soil Moisture

Average 33 % VWC Average 37 % VWC Average 37 % VWC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Soil MoistureCass County

Oct. 4 - Oct 222011

Medium Stubble Moisture Short stubble Moisture Chisel Plowed Moisture

Ridge Tilled MoistureAverage 26% VWC Average 33% VWC

Average 31% VWC Average 9% VWC

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Soil MoistureGolden Valley County

Sept. 29 - Nov. 152011

Tall Stubble Moisture Medium Stubble Temperature Short Subble MoistureAverage 14% VWC Average 10% VWC Average 2% VWC

Tall isDriest

Ridge TillIs Driest

Tall isWettest

Tall isWettest

Equipment and Cost

• SolarStream Cellular Modem - $750• Cellular Service - $180/year• Data Logger - $500• Sensors

• Temperature $100• Moisture $140• Wind $240• Rainfall $400

Depth Control

• Influences Seedling Emergence and Yield

• Important Factors• Independent Pressure• Gauge Wheels• Shank Linkage• Castor Wheels

Accurate and controllable methods of depth placement are more important in small-seeded crops because seeds usually are planted shallower than in larger-seeded crops.

Depth ControlWHEAT PLANTING DEPTH STUDYJim Herbek, John James, and Dottie CallDept. of Agronomy, Univ. of KY. 2001

HOW PERFECT DO WHEAT STANDS NEED TO BE?Lloyd Murdock, Jim Herbek, John James, and Dottie Dept. of Agronomy, Univ. of KY. 2001

Effects of Skips on Wheat Yields• Method:

• Plants removed to make skips• Skips 6”, 12”, or 18” long

• Results:• Length of Skip – No Yield

Effect• No Yield Effect if:

• -10% Skip - all Varieties• -20% Skip -Tillering

Varieties

Depth Control

Varying Conditions

• No Openers Work as Well in Wet Soils• Compacts Soil• Buildup on Packer

Wheels• “Glazed” Furrow

Varying Conditions

• Flexible Frames• Parallel Linkage• Hydraulic Shanks

Soil Disturbance

• Disc Openers Cause Less Soil Disturbance• More Residue on Surface• Less Soil Temperature Change• Less Soil Erosion• Conserve Soil Moisture

Soil DisturbanceSoil disturbance and fuel consumption for various types of openers

Opener configuration Soil surface disturbance

STIR* factor

Fuel consumptionto seed one acre

(spacing in inches) % gallons/acre

Double disc (7-10) 65 6.33 0.34

D disc separate fertilizer opener (7-12) 85 13.8 0.43

Double disc – fluted coulters (7-10) 55 7.2 0.43

Double disc – narrow offset 25 4.9 0.32

D disc – very heavy direct seeding one pass 85 16.6 1.1

D disc – very heavy direct /row cleaners 90 17.5 1.3

Hoe in heavy residue (10-15) 65 16.9 0.74

Hoe (6-12) 90 23.4 0.74

Inverted tee,.e.g., cross-slot (7-10) 15 1.9 0.40

Single disc (7-10) 15 2.4 .035

S disc with separate fertilizer opener (7-10) 35 5.7 .048

one

Precision Agriculture Implications

Section Control on Air Seeders

• Seed/Fertilizer Placement• Depends on Seedbed Utilization• Increase Yield with Optimum Fertilizer

Placement• 30 lb. Nitrogen with Wheat Seed• Uniform Depth – Not as Critical

• Crop Residue • Standing Stubble Warms and Dries Earlier in

Spring• Bare Soil Warmer and Drier• Stubble Height

• No Influence on Winter Soil Temperature• Short Stubble – Drier Spring and Fall

Summary

• Planting Depth• 3”+ Reduces Wheat Yield• Depth Critical for Small-seeded Crops

• Effects of Skips on Yield• -10% Skip ok with Wheat

• Soil Disturbance and Energy Consumption• Hoe in heavy residue – 65% Disturbance,

0.74 gal/acre• Single disc – 15% Disturbance, 0.35 gal/acre

Summary

Planting Technology

Feeds the

World

1804 1 billion

1850 1.2 billion

1900 1.6 billion

1927 2 billion

1950 2.55 billion

1955 2.8 billion

1960 3 billion

1965 3.3 billion

1970 3.7 billion

1975 4 billion

1980 4.5 billion

1985 4.85 billion

1987 5 billion

1990 5.3 billion

1995 5.7 billion

1999 6 billion

2000 6.1 billion

2005 6.45 billion

2010 6.8 billion

2011 7 billion

Current World Population:7,029,599,952

Questions - Comments

Office 701-231-8213 Cell 701-261-9842

John.Nowatzki@ndsu.edu

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery