Once harvest comes to an end, some growers will shift their focus to strip-tillage. Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in plant nutrition and soil fertility, offers a few thoughts on applying nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with strip-till this season.

Poultry litter can provide a significant and important supply of nutrients for crop production in areas where a supply of litter is available. Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma rank among the largest producers of poultry in the U.S.

One of more interesting things I've learned about strip-till is how the practice can vary from farmer to farmer, depending on their years of experience. While there are principles to adhere to — noted by Illinois strip-tiller Alan Madison in this edition's feature story — there's also no textbook way to strip-till.

Paul and Mike Schweitzer, who farm near Malta, Illinois, band phosphorous and potash with their strip tillage unit using precision farming equipment. They band-apply variable-rate phosphorous and potassium with their fall strip-till pass with an 8-row Orthman 1tRIPr strip-till rig.

Paul and Mike Schweitzer, who farm near Malta, Illinois, chisel hog manure from a neighboring farm in the fall into some of their fields. It's high in potassium, but much less valuable as a source of phosphorous.

When Strip-Till Strategies debuted 3 years ago, the first story focused on how strip-tillers should soil-sample fields.

To be more efficient with fertilizer, strip-tillers must be use caution in cutting rates and put nutrients where they do more good than harm.

Using strip-till and placing fertilizers 6 to 8 inches directly below the seed increased corn grain yields on the higher elevations, where severely eroded soils were largely devoid of crop nutrients, by 12% the first year and 26% the second year.

Seemingly unpredictable weather conditions each spring inevitably bring up questions on placement of fertilizer with the seed.

More no-tillers are finding fertilizing and tilling a 6- to 8-inch narrow band of soil in the fall and planting into this strip the following spring definitely boosts corn yields.