Is subsoiling for everyone?
Not necessarily, says Randall Reeder, agricultural engineer at Ohio State University, especially on a flat-bed system. Early subsoiling research at OSU indicated that subsoiling enhanced yields substantially on minimum-tilled land that had been heavily compacted. But since 2002, tests on 100% no-till corn and soybeans on flat beds showed better production without subsoiling, Reeder says. The compaction plots were switched to no-till with flat beds after the fall 2002 compaction, he says. In the seasons since then, the 20-ton plot soybean yields averaged about 10% less with subsoiling than continuous no-till, and corn yields averaged 8% less. For two crop years, we delayed one subsoiling treatment until late January, compared to the usual November date. For both corn and soybeans, there was no effect on yield the following season. Reeder advises growers to examine the type of program that is best suited for their soil and tillage systems. Jamerson says he plans to run the one-pass unit
