Tillage decisions have long been framed by some farmers and equipment manufacturers as an either-or choice. But on many farms, tillage needs don’t fit neatly into either camp. Crops vary, soil conditions change, and some problems in the field simply don’t yield to an all-or-nothing approach.
That’s where shallow tillage is starting to gain traction—as a strategic middle ground between conservation and conventional tillage practices.
“Shallow tillage sits between no-till or zero till and conventional tillage,” says Josh Metsker, chief sales and marketing officer for Kelly Tillage.
A Practice That Helps Preserve Soil Structure
Shallow tillage focuses on working the top 1” or 2” of soil while leaving the deeper profile largely undisturbed. That differs from traditional, primary tillage tools that often work 4” or more into the soil, which can disrupt soil structure. By contrast, shallow tillage aims to create an active, well-mixed surface layer while preserving the structure that lies beneath.
Shallow tillage also differs from vertical tillage. Metsker says vertical tillage tools are typically designed to cut and size residue while minimizing lateral soil movement. He believes that approach, while useful, doesn’t always go far enough for what many growers need.
“A lot of your vertical tillage is good at cutting residue, but it doesn’t really level much, or terminate weeds, and it doesn’t incorporate fertilizers,” he explains. “You get a lot of stalk destruction, but not necessarily those other things.”
Metsker says the Kelly Tillage System is built around a chain of ground-engaging discs, with options tailored to different soils and cropping systems. “The secret to the sauce behind a Kelly is our ground engaging discs,” he notes. “We’ve got about seven different disc options, and we can tailor those to fit your farm.”
Shallow tillage represents an approach to working the soil that acknowledges both the long-term benefits of reduced disturbance and the short-term realities of weed pressure, residue and seedbed demands.
For farmers, the appeal lies in its flexibility. Shallow tillage does not require abandoning no-till principles or reverting wholesale to deep conventional tillage. Instead, it offers a calibrated option — a way to bring iron into the field when it is truly needed.
“By going shallow, we’re preserving subsoil moisture, subsoil organic matter and nutrients and soil structure and all those things that you have worked so hard to build into your soils,” Metsker says. “We’re helping preserve that by not going deep, but still getting the benefits of deeper tillage.”
Practical Solutions To Persistent Problems
For many no-till or zero-till farmers, the decision to consider shallow tillage often begins with a problem rather than a philosophy.
Herbicide-resistant weeds are one prime example. As more weed species develop resistance to herbicide active ingredients and chemistries become more limited or more expensive, corn and soybean farmers are increasingly looking for another tool to bring to the fight.
“If you’re a no-till or zero-till farmer, you sometimes end up with weed problems that only tillage can fix,” Metsker says. “You know, weeds can’t resist iron.”
In that context, shallow tillage becomes another mode of action for control. A well-timed pass can uproot or bury small, emerging weeds, interrupting their life cycle without resorting to deep inversion tillage.
Seedbed preparation is another area where shallow tillage can play a key role. Even well-managed no-till systems can struggle with residue hair-pinning, planter bounce, and inconsistent seed placement, particularly in heavy-residue situations. Metsker says this is where shallow tillage with a disc chain harrow, like those offered by the Kelly Tillage System, tends to shine.
“We’re able to create a perfect layer of soil for your planter to run on,” he says.
A smoother soil surface helps the planter maintain optimum depth, achieve uniform spacing, and help deliver more even crop emergence across the field. In a competitive environment where every bushel counts, that kind of consistency can make the difference between average and top-end performance, Metsker says.
In summary, Metsker offers five reasons farmers might want to consider shallow tillage and the Kelly Tillage System, specifically:
- You want to stay mostly no-till but need a “reset” tool: Occasional shallow passes can help farmers manage residue, level ruts, or address compaction at the surface without the need for farmers to abandon the long-term soil health benefits they’ve built, Metsker reports.
- You battle herbicide-resistant weeds: He says using shallow tillage means using iron strategically to terminate small weeds and reduce dependence on chemistry alone.
- You want to develop a better seedbed and the opportunity for more consistent crop emergence. Shallow tillage can help you create a smooth, uniform surface that improves planter performance and stand establishment.
- You want to avoid the full cost of conventional tillage. Metsker says the Kelly Tillage System can reduce fuel consumption and equipment wear while preserving soil moisture and structure.
- You are looking for tillage flexibility for changing conditions. Having an “intermediate” tillage option allows you to adapt to wet falls, heavy residue crops, or weed flare-ups without committing to deep tillage.
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