Tillage Considerations on Previously Flooded Soils

Many Iowa fields had wet or underwater areas during part of the growing season. Many wet areas were planted late which resulted in late-maturing crop. Yields have been variable in these areas, sometimes significantly below that of yields in areas not subject to wet soil conditions. In these conditions a frequent concern of growers is that excessive rainfall, wet soil, and/or lower crop yield have damaged soil structure and that these damages may warrant significant tillage operations prior to next season's crop to loosen soil and ameliorate damage to soil structure.