By Korede Olugbenle
Drill and planter performance can be hindered by excessive corn residue in the field, which can lead to poor and uneven germination and emergence and reduced yield and profitability. Corn, compared to soybean, takes longer to break down and decompose in the field due to its higher carbon-nitrogen (C:N) ratio. The C:N ratio is a way to evaluate the balance between the two elements. A high C:N ratio (greater than 40:1) will have a slow residue decomposition by microbes due to nitrogen being a potential limiting factor, while a low C:N ratio (less than 25:1) will be faster because nitrogen is not as limiting, so microbes can get their energy source from carbon and build their proteins and enzymes using the nitrogen for cell growth and function.
Over time, there has been more innovation in “vertical” tillage tools and equipment to meet the demands of no-till cropping and managing corn residue, leading to the increased use of coulters and discs.