Best Practices to Manage Corn Residue

Over the years, as yields have significantly increased, managing residue has become a major challenge in corn production. But, there are ways for growers to control it, through a variety of management techniques. For optimal results, residue management should begin at harvest and continue throughout the next growing season.

Regional Sales Agronomist Tony Lenz says corn-on-corn acres are becoming more common as producers work to implement more no-till or minimum till. Combine header manufacturers are offering more chopping and shredding options. Using a shredding head with knives is an excellent choice in high-population fields because it splits the stalks and helps promote microbial breakdown. It’s also important to make sure the spinner on the back of the combine is spreading residue as evenly as possible across the combine cutting width.

Tillage is another key component of residue management. Lenz notes, “In my opinion, when dealing with corn-on-corn acres, implement selection will be more important for tillage. And while tillage is important, it’s also necessary to use aggressive row cleaners to get residue out of the planting row.”  This is crucial when using no-till and minimum tillage practices because you want to reduce hair pinning, which could cause seed to lie on top of trash and cause uneven emergence of plants –– one of the biggest causes of yield loss. Putting fertilizer in a strip till band in the fall is another way of dealing with trash, which also helps obtain even emergence. A strip till band creates warm soil in the spring and the ability for growers to get good seed placement. Because of these benefits, fertilizer will be placed where the plant roots can easily access nutrients.

Iowa State University studies have shown no adverse effects to soybean yields from tilling corn residue. But, studies show there will be some challenges in managing the residue, “That’s where modifications on the planter with row cleaners, heavier down pressure springs or other equipment attachments will be needed,” says Lenz.