Weighing Soil Compaction Risks with Corn Planting Date

With a wet spring, it may be tempting to rush fieldwork and plant into wet soils. Before doing so, weigh the risks of compaction-related yield loss against that of delayed planting. Pioneer Field Agronomist Dan Emmert discusses the risks of soil compaction when getting into a field too soon after rain events. When soil compaction occurs, the soil’s ability to supply water and nutrients to the crop is hindered. Compaction near the soil surface can significantly reduce yield under certain conditions but is generally more manageable and does not persist for very long. Waiting until fields dry and decreasing wheel traffic or trips across a field are ways to minimize the likelihood of soil compaction. For more information on soil compaction, visit: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/s... #Agronomy #PioneerSeeds #Corn