From environmental variations to drainage to moisture and even plant inconsistencies, every grower faces variability. When it comes to setting the proper downforce, variability can add up to yield loss from late emerging plants or restricted root growth.
The Precision Technology Institute (PTI) hosted by Precision Planting® conducted a DownForce® Study — as part of more than 60 farm laboratory studies — to explore this common agronomic issue that’s often unaddressed. See PTI’s yield impact results of implementing varying amounts of downforce below.
Evaluating downforce impact on yields
When downforce matches your field’s conditions, the depth of planting is consistent and correct. However, too light of row unit downforce can cause planting depth to shallow up and lead to poorly rooted plants. On the flip side, too much downforce can lead to furrow smearing and side-wall compaction.
How do you maintain the correct downforce? The answer is a system that adjusts downforce automatically like the DeltaForce® from Precision Planting. When tested alongside DeltaForce, excess downforce resulted in yield losses of -4.8 Bu/A and too light of downforce showed a staggering -12.8 Bu/A.
After some math, these results confirm that using an automated downforce system like DeltaForce could equal a revenue increase of +$16.87/A compared to the too-heavy settings and +$44.95/A compared to the too-light settings.
Adjust automatically for better results
Unlike the springs and air bags on your planter, DeltaForce uses hydraulic cylinders to automatically adjust the downforce weight on each row individually. By doing this, DeltaForce solves variability across your field or from equipment. Row by row, foot by foot and seed by seed, you can produce an environment that fosters uniform germination, optimum growth and maximum yield.
"We also raise beef cattle...and DeltaForce became very important on those fields where the cattle were. We were able to see, where the cattle had grazed last winter, how the planter needed more downpressure to maintain consistent depth than where we didn't" – Nick Uhlman, Tremont, IL
See more benefits of precision planting
The experts at the Precision Technology Institute, a 200-acre outdoor farm laboratory, conducted over 60 unique studies covering a variety of crop types, weather conditions, chemicals/nutrients and precision planting technology. To see how results consistently show higher yields with the help of Precision Planting technology, download the full report.
To learn more about how precision planting can help improve yields for your operation, contact a Case IH Dealer.