Crusting may be a problem on light-colored soils. Ridge tillage can be used easily on slopes up to about 6 percent. No-till will be better on steeper ground. Ridge tillage can be adapted throughout the Corn Belt and is especially well suited to humid climates where soil tends to dry out slowly in the spring. Ridges provide the advantage of earlier planting dates in years when wet soils delay tillage and planting in plowed fields.
Earlier planting is a major advantage in wet springs.
Even on well-drained plots, planting on plowed ground was 45 days later than on ridge till in 1989. Crop Rotations Forages such as alfalfa cannot be included in the rotation without leveling the ridges. And they have been successful in getting a good stand and harvesting the crop. However, the combination of corn and soybean yields on ridge tillage may equal or exceed previous average yields, partly due to earlier planting. Cultivation Cultivation for weed control may be considered a concern and an advantage of ridge tillage.