NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

May 27, 1999

NDSU Agronomist Offers Row Crop Strategy for Wet Fields

Delays in fieldwork due to wet weather and wet soil conditions probably have many row crop producers asking several questions about planting, fertilizing and controlling weeds. An agronomist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service offers this strategy: plant first, then tend to weed control and apply fertilizer later, once an adequate stand has been established.

"Don't mud the seed in as poor stands may result," says Duane R. Berglund, extension agronomist at NDSU. "It's still early for sunflower, and there's plenty of time to plant soybean and dry bean."

When fields are wet, excessive trips from applying fertilizer and spraying herbicide can result in compaction, excessive soil clods and wheel track problems. Only a small amount of compaction can limit yields in some cases, Berglund says.

"Don't use the limited planting time available to apply herbicides. If time is spent applying herbicides, it may rain again and nothing is planted," Berglund stresses.

Most row crops have an adequate assortment of labeled post-applied herbicides for weeds emerging and competing in the growing crop. Berglund advises producers and chemical applicators to read and follow the label when applying all pesticides.

Nitrogen (N) does not need to be applied at planting, Berglund says. It can be applied after planting or after plants have emerged. This year, side-dressing between the rows of corn, sunflower, potatoes or dry bean may be the only method to adequately supply the crop with its N requirements.

For legumes such as soybean, dry bean and alfalfa, inoculate seed planted on wet, flooded fields being cropped again and on new ground not previously planted to those crops. The N-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) may be much reduced in natural populations due to wet, saturated conditions.

"Use common sense when planting row crops this spring," Berglund concludes. "Limit your tillage, have some patience and don't rush into the fields if soils are too wet."

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Source: Duane Berglund (701) 231-8135

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136