No‑till regenerative agriculture isn’t just a set of practices. It’s a philosophy that emphasizes minimal soil disturbance, enhancing soil organic matter, and fostering a resilient ecosystem.

For commodity row crop farmers, this approach offers not only environmental sustainability but also long‑term improvements in yield and input efficiency. In this guide, we’ll explore how to get your fields ready for planting without disturbing the benefits of a no‑till system. We’ll cover everything from preparing your field and testing your soil to determining the correct planting depth, assessing soil moisture, preparing your seeds, and monitoring your stand.

Whether you’re planting corn, soybeans, wheat, or other commodity crops, these steps will help you harness the regenerative power of a no‑till system while ensuring robust crop establishment.

1. Prepare for Pre‑Planting on a No‑Till Regenerative Farm

Unlike traditional systems where tillage is the norm, a no‑till regenerative approach relies on preserving your field’s living cover, crop residues, and overall soil structure. The first step in preparing your field is to assess and manage existing cover crop residues:

• Maintain Your Cover Crop or Mulch Layer. In regenerative systems, a living cover crop or retained crop residues act as protective mulch, shielding the soil from erosion and moisture loss. Assess the condition of this cover. Is it uniformly spread and healthy? An even, consistent layer ensures that the benefits of organic matter and soil microbial life are maintained.
• Residue Management. Even without tillage, you may need to manage residues to create an optimal seedbed. Techniques such as roller crimping can help flatten cover crops, allowing for better seed-to-soil contact without disturbing the underlying soil structure. Avoid traditional mechanical cultivation to maintain the regenerative benefits of long-term no‑till practices.
• Integrated Weed Management. With a thick residue layer in place, weed emergence might be more controllable. However, it remains critical to monitor for stubborn weed patches. Employ integrated weed management strategies—which might include selective herbicides and targeted mechanical disruption—to manage pest pressure while preserving beneficial plant cover.

By focusing on residue management and preserving soil cover, you harness the true power of no‑till agriculture: improved soil moisture retention, enhanced microbial activity, and reduced erosion.

2. Test Your Soil Testing and Strategize Organic Amendments

Before any planting begins, understanding your soil’s chemistry and structure is essential:

• Conduct a Comprehensive Soil Test. A detailed soil test will reveal pH, nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), and organic matter content. In regenerative systems, the goal is to work with nature rather than against it. Use this data to guide your amendment strategy, ensuring that any fertilizers or compost additions are minimal but effective.
• Organic Amendments over Synthetic Inputs. Working within a no‑till framework means you’ll likely have higher levels of organic matter. However, if your soil test reveals deficiencies, integrate organic amendments such as compost, manure, or biochar. These inputs enhance microbial life without the disruptive qualities of synthetic fertilizers.

Remember, maintaining a living soil ecosystem is the cornerstone of regenerative agriculture. Your soil test isn’t just a diagnostic tool; it’s a roadmap for improving the health of your soil in harmony with natural processes.

3. Determine the Right Planting Depth on No‑Till Fields

Planting depth is critical to seed germination and stand uniformity. In no‑till systems, the process is similar to conventional planting, but adjustments must be made for the presence of a mulch or cover crop residue.

• The General Rule—2 to 3 Times the Seed Diameter. As a baseline, many seeds are planted at a depth equal to 2 to 3 times their diameter. This rule works well for most commodity crops but must be adapted based on seed size, soil moisture, and existing residue.
• Adjusting for Cover Crop Residue. Because no‑till systems feature a protective layer of mulch, your seeds often need a slight adjustment in their placement to ensure proper seed-to-soil contact. For instance, corn is usually planted at around 1.5 to 2 inches deep, while soybeans might require a shallower depth of about 1 to 1.5 inches so their emerging shoots push through the residue without difficulty.
• Soil Type Considerations. In heavier clay soils that retain moisture longer, slightly shallower placement might be preferred to prevent waterlogging at the seed level. Conversely, in sandy soils or fields with a thicker mulch layer, planting more deeply might ensure that the seed has enough contact with soil moisture.

By carefully considering these factors, you can determine the optimal planting depth that will encourage vigorous germination while preserving the beneficial properties of your no‑till system.

4. Assess Soil Moisture in a No‑Till System

Knowing the moisture level of your soil is crucial, especially in a no‑till setup where a protective cover helps conserve water:

• Visual and Tactile Soil Checks. One of the simplest methods to gauge soil moisture is the finger test. Carefully remove a small portion of the residue if necessary, then squeeze a portion of the soil to determine its moisture content. Ideally, your soil should be moist but not saturated, with a consistency that holds together when pressed lightly.
• Using Soil Moisture Meters. While tactile methods are helpful, a soil moisture meter or tensiometer provides a more objective reading. By inserting the meter into the soil (preferably in different areas for a representative sample), you can assess the variability of moisture across your field. This step is especially important in no‑till fields, where residue may lead to uneven moisture retention.
• Pre-Plant Irrigation Strategies. In times of dry weather, pre‑planting or at‑planting irrigation might be necessary to bring the seed zone to an optimal moisture level. In a no‑till system, be cautious with irrigation to prevent runoff or over-saturation, ensuring that the moisture penetrates deeply without disturbing the protective organic layer.

Monitoring soil moisture is essential because it directly affects the rate of germination and early root development, thus laying the groundwork for a well‑established stand.

5. Prepare Seeds for a Regenerative, No‑Till Approach

Quality seed is the foundation of any successful crop. In a no‑till regenerative system, proper seed preparation ensures that your investments in sustainable agriculture payoff.

• Select High‑Quality Seeds. Always choose seeds with high germination rates from reputable sources. In a system where you aim for minimal intervention, uniformity in seed quality helps achieve a more consistent stand.
• Seed Treatments and Inoculants. To protect against soil‑borne diseases and pests, many commodity seeds come with pre‑applied treatments such as fungicides and insecticides. For legumes like soybeans, inoculating with the appropriate Rhizobium bacteria is crucial to promote nitrogen fixation and enhance crop health.
• Consider Seed Priming or Scarification. In some cases, especially for seeds with hard coats, priming or scarification can improve water uptake and speed up germination. This process involves lightly abrading the seed coat or soaking the seeds for a specific period before planting. With no‑till, where soil moisture levels can be influenced by the mulching effect of cover crops, better-prepared seeds help overcome any slight delays in emergence.
• Proper Storage and Handling. Once prepared, store your seeds in a cool, dry place until planting time. This step preserves seed viability and ensures that when conditions are right, your crop has the best chance to thrive.

6. Seed in a No‑Till Regenerative System

In a no‑till environment, seeding operations are designed to minimize soil disturbance while ensuring that seeds are placed in optimal contact with the soil. Although we’re not focusing on planter calibrations, it’s important to understand the principles behind no‑till seeding.

• Achieving Uniform Seed Placement. Reliable seed placement is the cornerstone of crop uniformity. In no‑till systems, specialized seeding techniques create narrow slots or openings in the residue, allowing seeds to be deposited directly into the soil without excessive disturbance. Uniformity ensures that each seed has adequate access to moisture and nutrients, leading to a robust average stand.
• Balancing Residue and Soil Contact. The key to successful no‑till seeding is balancing the preservation of the protective residue with the need to provide adequate seed-to-soil contact. This is achieved by ensuring that the seeding tool either cuts through or parts the residue sufficiently to allow seeds to settle into the soil. Good contact is critical for the prompt uptake of moisture and the initiation of germination.
• Spatial Considerations. Maintaining proper row spacing and seeding density is vital. A uniform stand promotes efficient use of available water, sunlight, and nutrients. Overcrowding can lead to competition and ultimately weaker plants, while too few plants may leave gaps that invite weed invasion.

While the mechanics of seeding can be managed by your no‑till seeding equipment, your focus should be on ensuring that the underlying principles of minimal soil disturbance and sufficient seed incorporation are met.

7. Manage Stand Population and Establishment

After seeding, the focus shifts to monitoring the establishment of your crop stand. Here’s how to do it without disrupting your no‑till system.

• Targeting Optimal Stand Populations. For commodity crops, established recommendations exist for desired plant populations. For example, corn often requires 28,000 to 32,000 seeds per acre, while soybeans might target 140,000 to 180,000 seeds per acre. These targets ensure that plants have adequate space to develop while maximizing the use of nutrients, water, and light.
• Early Stand Assessment. A few weeks after emergence, perform sample counts to gauge plant density. This can be done by counting the number of plants in several representative linear feet along a row. Use these counts to estimate overall plant populations for each acre.
• Adjusting for Variability. Even in well‑managed no‑till systems, some areas may emerge less uniformly due to micro–variations in residue thickness or moisture. If stand counts fall significantly below your target, consider remedial actions such as localized re‑seeding in those areas, always taking care to minimize further soil disturbance.
• Uniform Growth and Weed Control. A uniform stand not only optimizes resource use but also minimizes the potential for weed infestations. When all plants are of similar size and vigor, weeds have less chance to establish themselves in gaps. This uniformity is crucial to the success of a no‑till regenerative mechanism because it helps maintain the canopy that protects soil moisture and suppresses weeds naturally.

By carefully managing stand populations after seeding, you ensure that the investment in seed, cover crops, and soil health yields a robust, productive crop throughout the season.

8. Benefit from a No‑Till Regenerative Approach to Commodity Crops

Beyond the specific steps described above, embracing a no‑till regenerative approach offers far‑reaching benefits for commodity crop farmers.

• Improved Soil Health and Structure. No‑till practices maintain stable soil structure, preserving beneficial organisms and organic matter. Over time, these practices lead to improved soil fertility, enhanced water infiltration, and better moisture retention, all reducing the need for synthetic inputs.
• Enhanced Biodiversity. The continuation of a living cover or residue layer supports a diverse range of beneficial soil organisms. These organisms, from earthworms to microbes, contribute to nutrient cycling and suppress soilborne pathogens, thereby enhancing overall crop vigor.
• Reduced Erosion and Input Costs. By preserving organic matter and reducing soil disturbance, no‑till regenerative systems greatly reduce erosion. This not only protects your soil but also lowers costs related to fertilizers and soil amendments over the long term.
• Resilient Crop Emergence and Growth. The benefits of a healthy, no‑till system are often reflected in more consistent crop emergence, stronger plant development, and ultimately, higher and more stable yields. A system that works with nature, rather than against it, becomes increasingly resilient to weather extremes and pest pressures over time.
• Long‑Term Sustainability. Perhaps the most compelling advantage of no‑till regenerative agriculture is its contribution to long‑term sustainability. By building healthy soils, reducing dependency on external inputs, and enhancing water conservation, farmers lay the groundwork for continued productivity for generations to come.

Transitioning to and successfully managing a no‑till regenerative system for commodity row crops requires thoughtful preparation and precise management. By preserving a living cover, managing residues carefully, determining the optimal planting depth, assessing soil moisture with minimal disturbance, and preparing high‑quality seeds, you set the stage for robust crop establishment. Following these principles ensures that your stand is uniformly established and well‑equipped to take advantage of the inherent benefits of regenerative agriculture.

Every step, from pre‑planting evaluations to stand monitoring, contributes to establishing a sustainable, productive system that not only maximizes yield but also nurtures the soil for future seasons. Integrating these methods into commodity crop production offers a promising pathway toward more sustainable and resilient agricultural landscapes.

By recognizing and embracing these processes, commodity row crop farmers can achieve higher productivity while reducing their environmental footprint, a win‑win for both the farm and the planet. With this integrated approach, you can maintain the integrity of your no‑till system and ensure that every seed planted contributes to a thriving, regenerative farm ecosystem.

At ST Biologicals, our mentors can help you establish no-till practices at your operation. We’re here to help you succeed. When soil speaks, we listen.