By Paul Jasa

With recent rains and wet soils, many producers in Nebraska may be tempted to head to the field sooner than they should. However, wet soils are easily compacted when tilled or driven on, as the soil particles are lubricated and "slide" easily under the weight of the implement or tires.

Sidewall compaction during planting can be a problem in wet soils, especially if the crop is "mudded in" and a dry spell occurs after planting. Patience is required to wait for the soil to dry for better conditions.

How wet is too wet?

If you are putting a log chain or a tow strap in the tractor cab to pull you out in case you get stuck, you know it's too wet.

Make a quick check of soil moisture conditions by taking a handful of soil from planting depth (or tillage depth if you are planning on doing tillage) and press it in your hands to make a mud ball.

If wet soil sticks to your hand, it's probably too wet. Drop the mud ball to the ground from waist high. If the mud ball doesn't break apart when it hits the soil surface, it's probably too wet.

Avoid ‘mudding in’ the crop

Even with no-till, waiting a day or two for the soil to dry out some will provide better soil conditions for stand establishment. "Mudding in" the crop often results in some seed-vee smearing, sidewall compaction or overpacking of the seed.

The resulting uneven emergence and poorer stands often reduces yields more than the slight reduction in yield resulting from planting later.

Depending on the intensity of the rain and how little residue was on the soil surface, a crust may have formed and some growers may want to till the field to break up the crust. However, this should be avoided, as the soil may be too wet to do tillage. The soil will be able to support the weight of a planter well before it is dry enough to be tilled.

Producers will be better off simply planting the crop through the crust. The seedlings will come up through the slot that the planter cut into the soil when placing the seeds. By not tilling the soil and by not running residue movers, there will be more residue on the soil surface to reduce crusting problems, another advantage to no-till.

Jasa is a Nebraska Extension engineer.

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