Missouri river bottom south of Sioux City, IA | I started strip tilling in 2003. I wanted a “hot zone” that was easy accessible to the corn roots. In dry years we have serious issues with the ground cracking and cutting off roots. See pic. In this case you’re also cutting off nutrients that would have been applied in a broadcast application. With strip till the nutrients are as close to the plant as possible.
Another huge advantage especially in a dry year is nutrient uptake is much more likely to happen if moisture is available to the roots. Guess were that happens first? It’s around the base of the plant as that is where the leaves funnel the rain. I’ve seen were a half of an inch rain will completely soak up the ground next to the plant’s base while in the middle of the rows the ground is dusty within a few hours. In a wet year we have shallow roots that don’t travel out into the middle of the rows. Why place P&K out were you have the least amount of roots?
I’m not encouraging anyone to cut rates when strip tilling but I have done that in some years and have not seen a pattern of declining yields. Actually the opposite has happen. In 2012 (drought year) I had some non-irrigated corn yield over 200 bpa. The field's APH was 172. I also had irrigated corn do 280 bpa so nutrient placement did not hold the yield back. Last year I started to apply starter with the planter and this fall I cut back on P&K rates when strip tilling. I’m looking for the corn to jump out of the ground better with the starter application.
Tom N.
 (cracks2.JPG)
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strip till fertilizer savings??
