With spring around the corner, now is a good time to give the planter a once over. When it comes to no-till planter set up, there are several areas that require attention to have a successful stand.

When planting into heavy residue, the addition of row cleaners have been shown to increase soil temperature by as much as six to eight degrees, improving germination, soil moisture and slot closing ability. When used properly, they should only remove row trash and not disturb the soil.

However, in many instances they are used as small tillage tools resulting in improper seed depth. Floating row cleaners improve on this tool and are a good fit in uneven ground, while the addition of side treader wheels are the answer in soft ground.

While it may seem unconventional, removing the no-till coulters can improve stand health. Unless you are planting into heavy sod, coulters can do more harm than good by throwing soil from the seed slot resulting in poor seed to soil contact, improper seed depth with the gauge wheel riding high over the clumps and not having enough for slot closing.

In addition, the coulter size in relation to the opener can create a false floor and allow seeds to be placed too deep with some makes and models prohibiting proper adjustment. Coulters can also increase sidewall compaction, especially in marginal soils, but using a 13 wave compared to a 7 wave can reduce compaction presence.

At the back of the planter, spiked closing wheels and drag chains are excellent modifications when working in high moisture soils or planting over uneven ground.

With traditional smooth closing wheels improper setup can lead to poor slot closing and increased sidewall compaction. To eliminate this, replace one or both with a spiked wheel, paying attention to the angle of the closing arm. Arms should be setup to run level to improve the gathering capability. When ran below level, the angle can be such that it’s impossible to close the seed slot.

When planting in high residue fields, or over even ground, drag chains are a cheap and economical addition that helps smooth out any imperfections to the seed bed as well as fill any open voids in the seed slot. Research has shown the addition of drag chains improve soil warming and uniform stand emergence.

While these recommendations may not work for everyone in every situation, the key to no-till is observing the planter in action.

Each field is different — different soil types, moisture levels and residue amounts. These variations can affect planter performance, and the only way to check is to spend time off the tractor, in the field examining the seed bed.

Are the row cleaners removing only trash? Is the seed at the proper depth and does it have good soil contact? Are you getting good slot closing and is the area loose and not compacted?

Answering these questions — as well as checking soil moisture and temperature before planting a field — will lead to a successful no-till planting season.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.