By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ky. — With spring planting almost under way, farmers are being reminded of good preparation techniques from agriculture experts throughout the region.

Much of the information right now has to do with soil preparation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Ag 101 series, “Prior to planting, the soil needs to be prepared, usually by some form of tillage or chemical ‘burn-down,’ to kill the weeds in the seedbed that would crowd out the crop or compete with it for water and nutrients.”

The agency also notes “the optimum time for tillage (to prevent soil erosion) is just before planting.”

Incidentally, soil erosion in the United States is decreasing. From 1982-97, erosion declined about 40 percent because of conservation programs, technological advances and extension education efforts, according to the EPA.

University of Illinois extension weed specialist Aaron Hager cautioned farmers to be aware of the differences between glufosinate and glyphosate, the active ingredients in two popular herbicides, before starting weed control applications.

“Resistance evolves in weeds through repeated applications of the same type of herbicide,” Hager said. “The once-perceived invincibility of glyphosate has been tempered by the realities imposed by the diversity of our Illinois cropping systems.
“New weed management practices are needed to manage the consequences of long-term weed control.”

The two may sound alike, and both have certain similarities. Hager said, though, “Significant differences exist between these two popular herbicides, that require deeper understanding of how each one works.

“For example, in 2010 you would not want to spray glyphosate on glufosinate-resistant soybean, or glufosinate on glyphosate-resistant soybean. We can control large weeds with glyphosate. But we have to manage weeds with glufosinate.”

Another factor to recognize as planting proceeds is the compaction problem caused by last fall’s wet conditions. Stewart Seeds agronomists are cautioning farmers that a number of issues may develop: reduced root penetration, reduced water and air movement and overall reduced plant growth can cause nutrient stress, slow emergence and, ultimately, yield loss.

“For fields with compaction issues that were not able to be ripped in the fall, farmers could see rooting problems and stunted plant growth,” explained Brian Denning, Stewart Seeds agronomist. “Shallow, horizontal root growth can result in drought-stressed plants earlier in the season.

“Stunted plants can also be nutrient-stressed, especially for potassium, because of the inability of water to facilitate movement into the root through diffusion. Nitrogen may also be more prone to denitrification in dense soils because of a lack of oxygen in the soils.”

There are a number of suggestions to remedy the compaction problems, based on information available from Kansas State University, including filling in any ruts with a light tillage pass at an angle; avoiding running deep tillage of 12 inches or better in wetter soils; vertical tillage for shallower ruts or leveling the ground before planting; and addressing fertility issues as soil on the low side shows deficiencies even quicker if it is compacted.

Also, adequate potassium will help with plant stability and stalk integrity – challenges in dense soil that restrict root depth and spread; considering hybrids for compacted fields that have above-average root and stalk strength; and addressing nutrient availability by possibly banding phosphorus and potassium, using starter fertilizer and side-dressing nitrogen to reduce denitrification issues if wet soil develops.

Dr. Jim Herbek, a University of Kentucky College of Agriculture grain specialist, said last year’s weather will have a bearing on preparing for this year.

“We’ve already got some corn being planted in the state, and farmers should get out the planters and look them over and make sure everything is working,” he said. “Because of the wet fall last season and in trying to get the harvest out of corn and soybeans, there were quite a bit of tracks made in the fields because of the wet soil conditions.”

Herbek added it has been difficult to try to smooth out those tracks. “If at all possible, because Kentucky such a strong no-tillage planting state, it would be good if you didn’t have to do any tillage to smooth them up,” he said.

“In some cases this probably has to be done and hopefully, it has been done by now; depends on the weather season whether it was possible or not.”