17821x - 5/25/2015 09:35 I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the no-till results. You shouldn't need a coulter. Leave the stalks standing and plant between the rows. Its too bad your planter doesn't have a 200# setting because that is likely close to what you will need. If your planter needs any changes it would likely be for spiked closing wheels. Maybe one or two Dawn Curvetines because they would work for conventional or no-till. Planting no till into cornstalks, two Curvetines per row works much better than one per row. When one 13" Curvetine is used alongside one 12" standard rubber tire, the 1/2" radial difference is not enough to close the slot at the bottom. In many soils, no tilling into stalks with one of each, rubber tire is holding the Curvetine up from where it should be running for best seed to soil contact. One is better than none but not nearly as good as two CT per row. One of each per row works well in many stale seedbed or otherwise worked ground conditions. Two per row will work in anything from worked to no till as long as you pay attention to the tail piece spring pressure. Even in no till, with two CT/row it is very unusual to need more than the first spring lever notch on a JD planter. In very finely worked soils I suggest using the optional JD "half rate" tail piece springs...or no pressure at all, put the lever in the center. With two CT per row and little spring pressure required on the tail piece, less down pressure is needed or available for the row unit. Working on the top half of the unit mounted seed hoppers also can help in a pinch.
Edited by Jim 5/25/2015 17:37
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amount of downforce no till
