Efficacy of Deep Tillage in Wisconsin

Soil compaction is recognized as a yield limiting factor in crop production. Compaction problems continue to exist for several reasons, including; 1) the large size (mass) of agricultural vehicles; 2) increased operations on wet soils because of larger farm acreage and multi-axle driven equipment; and, 3) the lack of controlled traffic patterns in fields. Where compaction is identified as a problem, ameliorating its effects is difficult. Natural freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles may take several years to correct the problem. Seeding tap-rooted forages is also often suggested, but is not practical because of rotational considerations. Many producers routinely subsoil (deep till) fields even if restricting layers have not been identified. Subsoiling is a relatively expensive and time consuming operation for which little research has been conducted to evaluate its impact on crop production.