Last fall at this time farmers were trying to harvest crops in the wettest fall in at least fifty years.

Severe compaction was a common result. Then the wet fall was followed by a wet winter and a wet spring leaving little or no chance to do anything to correct compaction problems before planting.

For many Ohio farmers, now is the time to consider compaction solutions. If the yield monitor confirmed your worst fears about compaction, conditions this fall seem to be ideal for subsoiling. Deep tillage can help increase water infiltration and improve soil structure. However our research at OARDC Northwest Experiment Station indicates that subsoiling does not immediately return soil to its “pre-compaction” state. And be cautious of heavy axle loads on the field in the year or two following subsoiling.

From a crop residue management standpoint the best subsoiler is one that simply slices through the soil with little surface disturbance. This design is often preferred because crop residue will protect against erosion and the field may be smooth enough to plant without additional tillage. Try to till no deeper than the compaction zone. And if the shanks are 24 to 30 inches apart the undisturbed soil between them will support heavy loads better than with a typical V-ripper which usually tills the whole area.

For those without compaction problems, but still not quite ready for continuous no-till, there are several options for light shallow tillage. The goal should be to do the least amount of tillage necessary to create conditions for a good crop. Strip-till can be a good choice, especially for farmers with a precise auto-steering system.

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