The Importance Of Uniform Timing Of Plant Emergence

For centuries, farmers have been striving to obtain the perfect “picket-fence” plant spacing to help ensure higher crop yields.

While consistent plant spacing helps improve crop yields, numerous studies have shown that uniform plant emergence has a much greater impact.

Plants that emerge from the soil within only hours of each other tend to produce crops that are uniform sizes and weights.

Late emerging plants – even if the lag time is only a few days – can result in a drastic reduction in crop yields by the end of the year, particularly with corn.

Below, we are offering tips for ensuring uniform plant emergence in no till farming.

Ensure That The Seed Furrows Are Deep Enough
While deeper planting can delay plant emergence, it can also ensure that the plants will emerge more uniformly than if the seeds were planted in shallow furrows. Add our UniForce hydraulic down-pressure system to a John Deere drill, and you’ll get uniform pressure on every single opener, through its full stroke. This add-on piece of equipment, which we introduced in 2016, has been a game changer. The UniForce lessens sidewall compaction (allowing for more uniform root growth) and delivers consistent seed furrow depth across a variety of soil conditions and varying terrain.

Control the Seed Placement
In addition to the UniForce, seed firmers, such as Keetons, help place seeds more uniformly.

Add our Mojo Wire stiffener to a Keeton seed firmer, and you will get up to 5 times the pressure, where it’s needed the most – at the bottom of the furrow.

We have also designed a heavy-duty seed bounce flap, with a unique, 20-degree forward bend, that helps put more seeds in the bottom of the seed furrow. Our Ninja seed bounce flaps are both durable and flexible.

Manage The Seed Furrow
Ideally, in no till planting, every seed will have uniform, good contact with the soil. Our DuraLok firming wheel for planters fits the seed furrow snugly and isn’t too rigid or too soft. And our Thompson Closing Wheel for planters and drills break up the furrow sidewall, firms the seeds in the bottom of the furrow, and closes the furrow adequately.

Check out our catalog of no till equipment parts – you can view, download a PDF, or we’ll be happy to mail you a catalog.

At Exapta, we sell 100+ parts and equipment for no till farming. For more information, please call (800) 417-8020, or e-mail info@notillagriculture.com.

Click to read information about the importance of uniform spacing in crop yields.

Note: We can ship all of our no till products throughout the U.S., Canada, and the world.