Tillage History
Scope of Project | Research Objectives | Tillage Tools Used | Initial Observations
Research Methods | Stand Counts | Soil Density | Yield | Summary

Scope of the Project

As an agronomic service to Krause dealers and customers, Krause Corporation undertook an agronomic field research program in the spring of 2004 to compare a disc harrow , field cultivator and combination soil finisher to two different "vertical" tillage tools. The commercial scale research was done on a 60 acre field in Floyd County, Iowa. The field had been in soybeans in 2003, to be planted to corn in April 2004. The only operation conducted after harvest was the spring application of NH3 with a tool bar applicator. The field was selected for its uniform soil makeup (Kenyon Floyd Clyde, clay loam) and the absence of a defined hardpan or soil density layer which could influence the test results.

Objectives
  • Measure the corn yield results for each of the five tools
  • Measure the effect each product had on soil density (compaction)
  • Measure percent of crop emergence
  • Measure plant population