Search

In addition to preparing the soil for planting, tillage can be an effective strategy for weed management. During a field trial, blue chalk was applied to the soil surface in areas where a tillage pass was made with a vertical tillage (VT) tool at a 3 degree, 5 degree and 9 degree gang angle setting.

In this video, ISU Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson explains how a VT tool performs when it comes to mixing herbicides into the soil, and which gang angle settings are most effective. 

Vertical tillage (VT) tools can be an effective way to maintain residue and prevent soil erosion while still preparing the soil for planting.  When you select a vertical tillage tool for your operation, consider these factors:

1. Types of blades

In areas with wet, heavy soil where you may need to move additional soil, a blade with some concavity will be most effective. In highly erodible ground, you can use lower concavity blades to maintain the roots of the residue. 

2. Gang angle and adjustability