How to Farm With Vertical Tillage

Vertical tillage is a minimalist's approach to farming. Rather than subject a field to a full treatment of plowing and harrowing between crops, vertical tillage requires only one pass through a freshly harvested field with an implement that is neither a traditional harrow nor plow. Vertical disks penetrate the soil, minimally disturbing it and the underlying residue from the previous crop, while making the soil more water absorbent. In a 2004 study on corn yields in Crawfordville, Indiana, researchers harvested 196.4 bushels per acre using vertical tillage, compared with 191.6 bushels per acre using conventional techniques. Vertical tillage promises higher yields and improved soil conservation for less work, although it also requires an investment in new equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Vertical tillage implement

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Hook up a set of vertical disks to your tractor. Most vertical tillage implements use a conventional three-point hitch, with hydraulic lift and sway bar attachment.

   • 2

     Set the depth to approximately 12 inches. This will loosen the soil and allow air and water to penetrate past the upper-level compaction layer.

   • 3

     Pass over the field once. You will notice that although the disks are penetrating the soil deeply, they leave little visible effect on the surface. Newer model tractors have auto-pilot systems that enable you to move through the field efficiently without overlapping or leaving gaps.

   • 4

     Plant seeds directly over the tilled rows. Some farmers pull planters directly behind the vertical tillage implement, eliminating guesswork in seed placement.