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QSoilHow should I till after different preceding crops?
The depth and type of primary tillage are not fixed — they depend on which crop was in the field and when it was harvested. Of all operations, tillage has the strongest effect on the soil's water, air and heat regime.
| Preceding crop | Primary tillage | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early (winter cereals, pea, oilseed rape) | Disc harrow at 10–12 cm immediately after harvest | Conserves moisture and triggers emergence of weeds and volunteers |
| Mid-season (sunflower, early maize, soybean) | Ploughing at 16–18 cm or two passes with heavy discs at 10–12 cm | Depends on the amount of residue and soil moisture |
| Late (late maize, etc.) | In drought — two disc passes at 8–10 cm; with more moisture — shallow ploughing at 12–15 cm | Do not plough in dry weather — every deep pass loses water |
| Erosion-prone areas | 1–2 passes with sweep or cultivator tines | Residues stay on the surface as protection |
Seedbed preparation is always shallow — 6–8 cm. The aim is a level, firm seedbed with moisture at sowing depth.
Take the soil into account: vertisols (heavy clay soils in central and southern parts) compact easily and must not be tilled at the wrong moisture; the chernozems of the Dobrich plateau tolerate minimum tillage better.
Material: Training Module 1, sections 1.1–1.2; Brochure 1, section 10.