Insects, Herbicides May be Wrongly Blamed

This spring presented less than ideal conditions for planting corn in many areas. With the cool weather, some producers may have decreased planting depths in an effort to facilitate quicker emergence. However, soil temperature and soil moisture are less buffered at shallow planting depths than at deeper ones and resulting stands may be less uniform in emergence. A number of problems can develop due to shallow planting and some can mimic insect and herbicide injury. Identifying the actual cause can aid in management and decision-making.

Planter Mechanics and Shallow Planting

Most corn planters were designed to plant 2 to 3 inches deep, so the plant develops a good root system. When planting shallower than that, especially when using a planter with angled closing wheels, producers risk sidewall compaction as the press wheels compact the soil below the seed rather than around the seed. (See the CropWatch story, Avoiding Sidewall Compaction at Planting – Don’t Plant Too Shallow) Also, when planting shallow, the press wheels may not properly close the seed-vee, allowing it to dry out, affecting germination or root development. Problems may be blamed on insects or herbicide injury, but actually result from planting, so scout carefully to determine the true causes of problems.

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