TILLAGE SYSTEM : VERTICAL TILLAGE IMPLEMENT

Above: 25% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was removed and the field was worked with a Salford RTS vertical tillage implement.
TILLAGE SYSTEM : DISK

Above: 18% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was removed and the field was worked with a disk.
TILLAGE SYSTEM : CHISEL PLOW

Above: 16% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was removed and the field was worked with a chisel plow.
Scenario # 2- Cereal crop harvested, straw left and 3 tillage systems evaluated.
TILLAGE SYSTEM : VERTICAL TILLAGE IMPLEMENT

Above: 70% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was spread and the field was worked with a Salford RTS vertical tillage implement.
TILLAGE SYSTEM : DISK

Above: 53% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was spread and the field was worked with a disk.
TILLAGE SYSTEM : CHISEL PLOW

Above: 36% crop residue remaining after a cereal crop was harvested, straw was spread and the field was worked with a chisel plow.
Key Learnings from Demonstration:
- If the straw is removed and followed with any type of tillage, it is difficult to achieve 30% residue cover. Allowing volunteer cereals to grow or seeding a cover crop will get you over 30% cover.
- 30% soil cover after harvest does not mean 30% will be remaining in the spring. Residue management ranging from type of residue, form of tillage, modifications or adjustments to tillage equipment and combinations using cover crops will all impact the amount of soil cover.
Source: Fieldcropnews