Tillage and Oxygen
For years, Growers Mineral, Corp. has discussed the tillage equation in farming operations at our winter meeting seminars. The agricultural industry has told farmers that the key issues to improving soil health (microbiological soil life) was very simple: just reduce tillage and grow cover crops. According to the agricultural establishment, these practices will improve soil organic matter and soil water infiltration. So, it was with great interest that we read an article on the Farm Progress website on May 1, 2024.
According to the Mississippi Water Research Institute, 15 years of dedicated research to cover crops showed $50 to $200 an acre loss in returns associated with cover crops on-farm. Also, they found that tillage elimination led to reduced soil infiltration rates. With these types of results, the Institute felt they needed to try something different.
So, these researchers started looking at tillage methods used by farmers in the past such as subsoiling. Their new plot work showed that subsurface soil disturbance around 10 inches improved infiltration rates significantly. The researchers felt surface residues do provide some benefits, but they are not the total answer to soil health. Their new research indicates that subsurface disturbance or ripping or subsoiling with minimal surface disturbance improved infiltration rates. They referred to this practice as minimizing surface disturbance and maximizing subsurface disturbance. To achieve this result, they used really narrow shanks pulled around 10 inches deep. Their experiments centered around yearly subsoiling or ripping strategies, but the researchers felt implementing the practice every 18 months to two years could still be beneficial for improved infiltration.
The title of the Farm Progress article said it very well: "Dig Deeper: Subsoiling impacts irrigation efficiency more than conventional conservation."
Source:
Murphree, B. (2024). Farm Progress. photograph. Retrieved 2025, from https://www.farmprogress.com/crops/dig-deeper-subsoiling-impacts-irrigation-efficiency-more-than-conventional-conservation.
This is an excerpt from the Early Fall Growers Solution (2024) written by Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research & Education.
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