Regarding land management strategies to best support wildlife, food plots are at the heart of a well-rounded approach. Food plots provide a supplement to natural forage, making sure that your wildlife is never without a rich source of nutrients. Ensuring the health of these animals supports biodiversity and conservation efforts while bolstering populations for hunting.
When establishing a food plot, there are two primary methods: no-till planting and tilling. While each has its own benefits, the best approach may be a combination of the two, given the number of factors to consider.
What is No-Till Planting?
No-till planting is a technique that involves planting crops without disturbing the topsoil; this may involve drilling or topsoil planting seeds directly into untilled soil with minimal disruption to the soil’s surface.
Landowners who choose no-till planting see stronger, healthier plants, especially when certain soil types and conditions exist, such as delicate sandy or silty soil. No-till planting is also highly effective in retaining water in arid and semi-arid conditions, such as in the Pacific and Mountain states.
Benefit #1: Soil composition
The top benefit of no-till planting is the preservation of soil composition and structure. By eliminating soil turnover, beneficial soil organisms, and microorganisms remain undisrupted, so plants are free to grow stronger and healthier.
Benefit #2: Water retention and erosion control
By leaving the soil undisturbed, moisture is conserved, reducing the need for frequent irrigation. In addition, the surface residue from previous crops or vegetation acts as a protective layer of soil, reducing the risk of nutrient runoff.
Benefit #3: Soil fertility
No-till planting promotes the accumulation of organic matter, which plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling. Avoiding tilling slows the decomposition of organic matter so future plants have richer soil from which to draw nutrients.
Trade-offs to no-till planting
Those same methods that allow more vegetation to grow more freely also invite less friendly plants to the party: Weeds. Without effective weed control strategies in your no-till plot, weeds may outcompete your food plot crops. Herbicides may counter weed growth, but this may require careful planning and management. If the soil has been conventionally tilled in the past, compacted soil or heavy residue cover can affect germination, and pests and diseases may also be more challenging to manage.
Benefits of Tilling Food Plots
Tilling your soil involves mechanically breaking up and overturning the soil in preparation for planting. Conventionally used in both large-scale farming and food plots, tilling comes with both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefit #1: Weed control
Tilling disrupts weed growth and buries weed seeds to help suppress weed populations to ensure that your desired forage, instead of weeds, continues to grow.
Benefit #2: Seedbed preparation
Loosening the soil through tilling creates a more favorable space for germination due to improved seed-to-soil contact. The seedbed is also prepared through soil aeration and nutrient incorporation, giving you the opportunity to add soil amendments and fertilizers.
The pine forests of the Southeastern US, the coniferous forests of New England, and the evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest are all areas that host naturally acidic soil. In the Southwestern US, the soil leans more alkaline. Each region requires amendments to balance the pH of the soil for prime growing conditions.
Benefit #3: Pest and Disease Management
Burying crop residues and disrupting pest habitats help mitigate certain pests and diseases, including some root rots and fungal diseases. Some insect pests spend part of their life cycle in the soil, so tilling can disrupt their egg and larval stages; for example, certain species of corn rootworms and wireworms overwinter as larvae in the soil, and tilling works to expose these larvae to predators.
In the Southeast, warm and humid climates create the perfect environment for pests such as earworms, armyworms, whiteflies, and nematodes, while in the more arid and semi-arid Southwest, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and beetles can impact food plot productivity.
Trade-offs to tilling
While tilling your soil before planting can help mitigate some of the diseases and pests that may affect your food plot, it can also have potentially harmful effects, including disrupting beneficial soil organisms, increasing the likelihood of soil erosion, or degrading the soil structure over time.
The roles of soil composition, slope, climate, and crop type in your decision to till or not to till
Understanding the type and composition of your soil is crucial when choosing a food plot strategy; different soil types each have unique characteristics that influence their response to tilling or drilling. Consider that your technique may require adjustment based on the type of soil, geography, time of year, and type of seed that you are planting.
Sandy soil: prone to erosion and benefit from no-till methods
Heavy, clay soil: may require tilling for improved drainage and soil structure
Loam soil: responds well to both tilling and no-tilling
Silt soil: easily compacted; no-till practices preserve their structure
Equally as important as your soil is the slope of your land, your climate and growing season, and the type of crops you wish to grow.
If your slope poses an increased erosion risk by wind or water, think twice before tilling your soil. This could make it more prone to washing away or even having your topsoil blown away. If your land is moderately sloped, with adequate drainage and established irrigation paths, erosion may not play as large a role when deciding whether to till.
Creating thriving and effective food plots for wildlife also requires thoughtful seed selection; your choice of seeds plays a role in whether tilling or no-till strategies will be more effective. The following is a list of food plot seed types that grow equally well through tilling or no-till methods; our partners at Whitetail Institute each provide a robust selection of food plot products that can be found below.
- Legumes (clover, alfalfa, hemp, soybeans)
- Brassicas (turnips, radishes, kale)
- Cereals (oats, wheat, rye, triticale)
When growing fruit or nut trees, such as apple, pear, persimmon, chestnut, or oak, employ tree planting methods rather than till or no-till to carefully prepare the planting site without excessive soil disturbance. Our partners at Chestnut Hill Outdoors offer a wide selection of edible and flowering plants for forage.
Region and climate considerations
Your local extension office, local agricultural experts, or experienced farmers in your area can help you take into consideration the needs created by your specific region or climate when deciding whether tilling or no-tilling methods would be most effective in your food plot preparation. Looking at factors such as soil moisture, rainfall, erosion risk, soil organic matter and fertility, climate extremes, and integrated pest management all make up the unique characteristics of your area.
Reaching out to your local Whitetail Properties Land Specialist is a fantastic way to get to know your property’s makeup and receive solid recommendations for planting based on your goals and the soil and growing conditions in your area.
Dreaming about a place of your own to fuel your passion for the outdoors, manage the wildlife, and enhance the habitat they need? Find your ideal hunting property here.
