Zero-tillage furrow opener effects on seed environment and wheat emergence

Optimum emergence is necessary to attain maximum crop yields, particularly in reduced and zero-tillage systems. However, zero-tillage seeder performance under zero-tillage conditions is not always adequate, and thus may limit potential yield benefits from this soil and water conserving practice.

A study was conducted to measure the range of influence of zero-tillage openers on some soil physical properties of the soil-seed environment. Furrow opener design has direct consequences on soil surface disturbance, furrow compaction levels, and post-seeding soil water requirements in the seed row. While soil temperature and wheat cultivar differed between two distinct field trials, furrow opener designs conducive to adequate compaction of seed furrow with press wheels consistently resulted in better wheat emergence, when soil water potentials were not limiting.

This study demonstrates that seeding tool design has a quantifiable influence on seed furrow properties, and that this information can be used to develop precise guidelines for future designs of furrow openers and press wheels.