Weather conditions have led to soil crusting in parts of North Dakota. Soil crusting that occurs after planting and before crop emergence can prevent emergence and/or induce variability in the timing of emergence.

Crop establishment is a concern in some corn fields planted the first week of May in the southeastern part of the state. Heavy rains after planting followed by warm, dry weather resulted in a difficult-to-penetrate crust.

""Though most of the small grains were able to emerge and establish before this crust formed, corn, which takes more heat units to germinate, is just now encountering this barrier,"" says Joel Ransom, North Dakota State University Extension Service agronomist for cereal crops. ""What can be done to prevent stand losses and improve uniformity in emergence when crusting is a problem is even more important, given the potential expense of replanting in terms of seed and planting costs, as well as the potential cost to yield with a delayed planting date.""

The first step in determining what action is needed is to examine the extent of crusting and the germination stage of the seedling. The coleoptile of the corn is designed to penetrate through the surface of the soil. If leaves are found that have been forced out of the side of the coleoptile before reaching the soil surface because of the crust, there probably is a need to help plants become established by breaking up the crust.

""Timing is critical in making a decision about dealing with crusting, as older seedlings are more easily damaged by crust-breaking interventions,"" Ransom says.

A range of implements have been used to break crusts, with the rotary hoe the most commonly recommended. Harrows, culti-packers, coulter-carts and press drills also have been used with some level of success.

""Whatever implement a producer decides to use, it should be first used in a small area of the field,"" Ransom says. ""Make sure that the benefit from breaking the crust will be greater than any losses associated with damage caused to emerged or emerging seedlings. Don't worry too much if the operation 'roughens' or breaks the tip of the coleoptile, as the emerging leaves likely will be able to establish normally.

""If the operation leaves seedlings on the surface or excessively damages developed seedlings, then try something less aggressive,"" he says. ""Less seedling breakage will occur when operations are done in the afternoon when plants are typically more pliable, but if plants are struggling and you have many acres to cover, don't be deterred.""

NDSU Agriculture Communication