Summary Additional Reading Heightened concerns for energy and soil conservation have caused producers to reduce the number of secondary tillage operations while trying to maintain satisfactory incorporation of herbicides. Many herbicides are carried into the soil by rainfall or sprinkler irrigation and do not require mechanical incorporation. However, some soil-applied herbicides require mechanical incorporation to reduce volatility and photodecomposition losses. For more information use NebGuide G92-1081, Factors That Affect Soil Applied Herbicides . Many herbicides are labeled for single-pass incorporation when soil and residue conditions are ideal, thus reducing the number of tillage passes required and minimizing the amount of residue that will be destroyed.
Success depends on the extent of soil and herbicide mixing.
The two most common errors with incorporation are operating equipment too slow, too shallow or on soil that is too wet. These errors result in streaks of weeds. Producers should modify commonly accepted incorporation practices to reduce tillage trips and conserve soil by maintaining surface residue. Soybean stubble usually creates no problem for single-pass incorporation, especially when the soil is dry. On cornstalks and grain sorghum stubble, some farmers may use a chisel plow or disk operation in the fall.