Even if additional weights are used, marks are difficult to see in standing sod. Management Use a combine chopper or straw spreader during harvest. Avoid stopping in the middle of the field if possible to limit troublesome residue piles during planting the following spring. Avoid planting before the soil is ready. It is important to stay off the soil when it is too wet.
Untilled soil is hard to penetrate.
Soil will try to float each disk or coulter out of the ground. Weight requirements increase for both depth and number of coulters. Research at Iowa State University has shown that 400 pounds per coulter or more may be required. If planter fertilizer application is desired, consider using forward swept knifes behind leading coulters to help counter upward flotation. Coulter depth should be set at seed depth to inch below seed depth.