Hairpinning and variable seed depth. Windrows and piles of residue will cause unsatisfactory planter performance next year. Variable depth placement of seeds, and hairpinning will occur. The planting units may even be riding over excessive residue, unable to penetrate the soil. This causes seeds to be dropped at the soil surface. Planters with disk openers are most susceptible to these problems.

Uneven emergence. Even if seeds are placed accurately, an excessive mat of residue directly over emerging plants may cause plants to be injured, causing poor emergence. Patches of bare soil intermixed with thick residue cover will cause unevenness in soil temperature and moisture which will also affect emergence.

Increased pest pressure. Certain insect pests and rodents just love to live in those thick patches of residue.

Weed control problems. Weed seeds and grain lost through the combine will be concentrated in the residue patches. Concentrated weeds and volunteer crop plants are difficult to control. Herbicide effectiveness will be compromised because the herbicides don’t reach the soil.