Javascript is required to use this website.

Dig deeper on how tillage methods affect soil health, yield

Dave Roepke Iowa State University
May 7, 2026
May 7, 2026

Disc tiller — A disc tiller sits in a post-harvest fall field at a Mississippi State University research farm.
Contributed

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Dave Roepke Iowa State University

Imagine buying a dozen eggs at a grocery store, but when you get home and open the carton, there’s only a half dozen inside because you weren’t buying a dozen eggs. You were buying approximately 12 eggs, plus or minus six.

kAm%92E’D 9@H p?5C6H '2?{@@4<6 @7E6? 56D4C:36D 2 AC@;64E 96 92D =65 E@ 56G6=@A 2 >@C6 C6=:23=6 H2J E@ 6DE:>2E6 9@H E:==286[ E96 >6E9@5D 72C>6CD FD6 E@ AC6A2C6 E96:C 72C>=2?5 7@C A=2?E:?8 4C@AD[ 27764ED D@:= 42C3@? =6G6=D 2?5 J:6=5] %96 244FC24J @7 E9@D6 6DE:>2E6D :D :>A@CE2?E E@ 72C>6CD 3642FD6 J:6=5 :D 2=H2JD 2 32D6=:?6 4@?46C? 2?5 DF77:4:6?E =6G6=D @7 @C82?:4 42C3@? >2<6 D@:= >@C6 AC@5F4E:G6 2?5 DE23=6]k^Am

kAm%:==286’D :>A24E @? D@:= 42C3@? :D 2=D@ :>A@CE2?E E@ 4@>A2?:6D E92E A2J 72C>6CD E@ C65F46 E:==:?8 E@ 96=A >66E 4@CA@C2E6 42C3@? 6>:DD:@?D 8@2=D]k^Am

kAm“%96D6 4@>A2?:6D H2?E E96 36DE >@DE EC2?DA2C6?E 6DE:>2E6D A@DD:3=6 E@ 6?DFC6 E96JVC6 86EE:?8 2 5@K6? 688D :?DE625 @7 D:I[” D2:5 '2?{@@4<6[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 28C@?@>J 2E x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am

kAmp 52E232D6 3F:=E 3J x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD 2:>D E@ AC@G:56 >@C6 46CE2:?EJ 3J 5:88:?8 566A :?E@ E96 67764ED @7 E:==286[ :?E68C2E:?8 E96 C6DF=ED @7 >@C6 E92? ad_ A66C\C6G:6H65 DEF5:6D]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 E2<6? 2 =@E @7 FD67F= D4:6?46 2=C625J 5@?6 3J >2?J 5:776C6?E A6@A=6 :? >2?J 5:776C6?E A=246D 2?5 AFE :E E@86E96C :? 2 H2J E92E 42? 36 6G6? >@C6 FD67F=[” '2?{@@4<6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E 3682? 23@FE 7:G6 J62CD 28@ H96? +249 $:>AD@? – 2E E96 E:>6 2 A@DE\5@4E@C2= C6D62C49 2DD@4:2E6 7@C |2CD92== |4s2?:6=[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 28C@?@>J 2E x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ – 3682? 4@==64E:?8 52E2 E@ 2?2=JK6 9@H E:==286 27764ED >F=E:A=6 2DA64ED @7 4C@AA:?8 DJDE6>D]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< 96 H2D ;FDE E:C65 @7 6G6CJ@?6 4@>:?8 FA H:E9 5:776C6?E 2?DH6CD[” '2?{@@4<6 D2:5 @7 $:>AD@?[ ?@H 2 C6D62C496C 2E p2C9FD &?:G6CD:EJ :? s6?>2C<]k^Am

kAm$EF5:6D :?4=F565 :? E96 52E232D6 H6C6 :56?E:7:65 3J C6G:6H:?8 EH@ >6E2\2?2=JD:D A2A6CD E92E 4@==64E65 8=@32= C6D62C49 :?E@ 9@H E:==286 27764ED D@:= @C82?:4 42C3@? 2?5 4C@A J:6=5] x?4=F5:?8 J:6=5 :? E96 2?2=JD:D H2D :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 H9:=6 ?@\E:== 72C>:?8 EJA:42==J :?4C62D6D D@:= 42C3@?[ :E 2=D@ E6?5D E@ C65F46 J:6=5[ |4s2?:6= D2:5] %96 32=2?46 36EH66? ?@\E:==’D 36?67:ED 2?5 EC256@77D ?665D E@ 36 36EE6C F?56CDE@@5[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm|4s2?:6= D2:5[ “~?6 @7 E96 8@2=D :? D4:6?46[ 6DA64:2==J :? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= D4:6?46[ :D E@ :?7@C> 564:D:@?\>2<:?8] $@[ H6 92G6 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 4@?D6BF6?46D 7@C J:6=5]Qk^Am

kAm{:>:E:?8 E96:C 2?2=JD:D E@ C6D62C49 32D65 :? }@CE9 p>6C:42[ E96 x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ E62> 6IEC24E65 56E2:=65 :?7@C>2E:@? @7E6? >:DD65 :? E96 2G6C286 67764ED 6DE:>2E65 3J >6E2\2?2=JD:D DEF5:6D – D@:= 4@?5:E:@?D[ 4=:>2E6 2?5 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 :CC:82E:@?[ 7@C :?DE2?46] %:==286 H2D 4=2DD:7:65 @? 2 4@?E:?FF> @7 :?E6?D:EJ :?DE625 @7 2? 6:E96C\@C 32D:D[ 7:G6 DE286D C2?8:?8 7C@> 566A D@:=\EFC?:?8 E@ 4@>A=6E6=J 92?5D\@77 ?@\E:==]k^Am

kAm“*@F 5@?VE 86E 8C2?F=2C 52E2 F?=6DD J@F 4@>3 E9C@F89 E96 A2A6CD 2?5 7:?5 2== E9@D6 >@5:7J:?8 724E@CD[” D2:5 |4s2?:6=[ H9@ 25565 E92E 724:=:E2E:?8 7FEFC6 2?2=JD:D :D @?6 @7 E96 C62D@?D D4:6?E:DED D9@F=5 AF3=:D9 C6D62C49 52E2 2?5 E9@C@F89=J 56D4C:36 E96:C >6E9@5D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Beef lovers try new farming approaches
Dig deeper on how tillage methods affect soil health, yield
Iowa museum celebrates farming history
Life in a Farmhouse Kitchen
Finding local beef: South Dakota’s new directory connects producers, consumers
Online tool helps take guess-work out of planting
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Spickler Ranch South Annual Production Sale
Wendel Livestock Annual Angus Production Sale
Solar power helps keep Illinois farms alive
Spring and fall calving strategies differ
After 24 years, SDSU effort aims to bring back South Dakota custom rates survey
Always improving: Sandhills cowboy was an early AI adopter
Iowa weed specialist offers tips on timing tough weed control
Bocks build soil, raise crops together with faith, family

kAm%96 x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 52E232D6 5:5?’E C6G62= F?6IA64E65 EC6?5D[ 32D65 @? E96 C6D62C496CD’ :?:E:2= 2?2=JD:D] x? >2?J 28C:4F=EFC2= D6EE:?8D[ =@H6C\:?E6?D:EJ E:==286 :>AC@G6D D@:= @C82?:4 42C3@? 2?5 42FD6D D@>6 J:6=5 =@DD] w:896C\:?E6?D:EJ E:==286 86?6C2==J 5@6D E96 @AA@D:E6] %96 67764ED @7 =@H\ 2?5 ?@\E:== 2AA62C E@ 36 >@C6 AC@?@F?465 H96? E96J 7@==@H 9:896C\:?E6?D:EJ >6E9@5D]k^Am

kAmqFE 92G:?8 2 C:49 52E232D6 @? E:==286 2?5 D@:= 42C3@? 92D 366? G2=F23=6 7@C E96 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ E62> 2E t@46?6 t?G:C@?>6?E2= vC@FA[ 2 (6DE s6D |@:?6D\32D65 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?DF=E:?8 7:C> E92E 96=A65 7F?5 E96 C6D62C49]k^Am

kAm~?6 @7 t@46?6’D D6CG:46D :D 96=A:?8 3FD:?6DD6D ?2G:82E6 42C3@? >2C<6ED E@ C65F46 E96:C 6>:DD:@?D 7@@EAC:?E F?56C 7C2>6H@C<D DF49 2D E96 $4:6?46 q2D65 %2C86ED :?:E:2E:G6[ H9:49 @7E6? :?G@=G6D A2J:?8 72C>6CD E@ FD6 AC24E:46D E92E H:== DE@C6 >@C6 42C3@? :? D@:=] %96 7:C> 4@?E24E65 x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 23@FE 7@FC J62CD 28@[ H@?56C:?8 :7 2?J C6D62C496CD H@F=5 36 :?E6C6DE65 :? E2<:?8 @? 2 AC@;64E >F49 =:<6 H92E $:>AD@? 925 2=C625J DE2CE65]k^Am

kAm&?46CE2:?EJ :D @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 492==6?86D :? 42C3@? >2C<6ED 5F6 E@ E96 C6=2E:G6 =24< @7 7:6=5\E6DE65 D@:= @C82?:4 42C3@? C6D62C49[ D2:5 v236 |4}F??[ t@46?6 G:46\AC6D:56?E @7 6?G:C@?>6?E2= >@56=:?8 2?5 52E2 D4:6?46]k^Am

kAm|4}F?? D2:5[ “%96C6 ;FDE 2C6?’E 6?@F89 DEF5:6D 7@4FD65 4=62C=J @? AC24E:46D – 96C6’D E96 32D6=:?6 2?5 96C6’D E96 5:776C6?46 E96 AC24E:46 >256 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 4@?EC@=] %92E D@CE @7 C6D62C49 :D G6CJ =:>:E65]”k^Am

kAmp=D@[ AC65:4E:?8 9@H >F49 42C3@? D@:= H:== 9@=5 :? 5:776C6?E 4C@AA:?8 DJDE6>D 56A6?5D @? >2?J 4@>A=6I 724E@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 9@H D=@H=J D@:= 42C3@? =6G6=D 492?86 2?5 9@H 5:77:4F=E :E :D E@ 244FC2E6=J >62DFC6[ |4s2?:6= D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 492==6?86D 4@>A6==65 t@46?6 E@ A2CE?6C H:E9 x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ E@ HC:?8 2D >F49 :?D:89E 2D A@DD:3=6 7C@> E96 6I:DE:?8 3@5J @7 C6D62C49[ D2:5 |4}F??[ H9@ 62C?65 9:D 32496=@C’D 2?5 >2DE6C’D 568C66D :? >6492?:42= 6?8:?66C:?8 2?5 2 5@4E@C2E6 :? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= D4:6?46 2E x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ] xE’D 2=D@ A2CE @7 E96 C62D@? t@46?6 H2?E65 E96 52E2 E@ C6>2:? AF3=:4]k^Am

kAm“(6 H2?E @E96C A6@A=6 E@ D66 2?5 FD6 E96 52E2 D@ E92E[ 9@A67F==J[ H96? E96J E2<6 ?6H >62DFC6>6?ED @C ?6H DEF5:6D 2C6 2G2:=23=6[ E96J 42? 36 25565] (6 6?G:D:@? E9:D 2D 2? @?8@:?8 2?5 4@==23@C2E:G6 677@CE E92E :>AC@G6D @G6C E:>6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmt@46?6 :D 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ A2CE?6C H:E9 x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ C6D62C496CD[ H9@ 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ H@C< @? 2 D:>:=2C AC@;64E 2?2=JK:?8 C6D62C49 :?E@ E96 :>A24E @7 A=2?E:?8 4@G6C 4C@AD] }@\E:== 2?5 4@G6C 4C@AD 2C6 E96 E@A 72C>:?8 >6E9@5D 42C3@? >2C<6ED DFAA@CE[ |4}F?? D2:5]k^Am

kAm|4s2?:6= D2:5 96 6?G:D:@?D E9@D6 <:?5D @7 52E232D6D 364@>:?8 >@C6 FD6C\7C:6?5=J[ A@H6C:?8 E@@=D E92E 2C6 2446DD:3=6 7@C 72C>6CD] pCE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 H:== 96=A DA665 FA E96 AC@46DD @7 DJ?E96D:K:?8 6I:DE:?8 C6D62C49 E@ :?7@C> 2?5 6?C:49 >2?286>6?E 564:D:@?D]k^Am

kAm|4s2?:6= D2:5[ “%92E’D 567:?:E6=J H96C6 28C:4F=EFC6’D 7FEFC6 :D 9625:?8]Qk^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64ED 2=D@ D9@H H9J x@H2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ E9:D A2DE 72== =2F?4965 2 ?6H F?56C8C25F2E6 AC@8C2> :? 5:8:E2= 2?5 AC64:D:@? 28C:4F=EFC6[ '2?{@@4<6 D2:5] p DEC@?8 7@F?52E:@? :? 3@E9 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 52E2 2?2=JD:D :D 2 D<:== D6E :? ?665]k^Am

kAm'2?{@@4<6 D2:5[ “%9:D :D 6I24E=J E96 D@CE @7 H@C< @FC 5:8:E2= 2?5 AC64:D:@? 28C:4F=EFC6 8C25F2E6D H:== 36 AC6A2C65 E@ H@C< @?]Qk^Am