The following information is a Web Extra from the pages of Farm Journal. It corresponds with the article "What You Must Know About Soil” by Darrell Smith. You can find the article on page 30 in the February 2010 issue.
The first step in growing profitable corn yields is figuring out how much each field can produce. If you don't start out with a realistic goal, you risk over- or under-applying inputs, both of which are hazardous to your bottom line.
Compaction and dense soil may be standing between you and top corn yields by creating a barrier to root penetration and water movement. Compaction and soil density are not the same thing, says Missy Bauer, agronomist for The Andersons, based in Maumee, Ohio. She shared her observations with attendees at Farm Journal's first Corn College, held this past summer near Heyworth, Ill.