Soil Warrior Brings Total Zone Management

Soil Warrior is a unique pull-type and one-pass tillage machine that provides the economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of strip-tillage with deep-zone tilling (with fertilizer) in the fall and superior planting zones (with fertilizer) in early spring.

The machine is available from Environmental Tillage Systems (ETS) in Faribault, Minn.

With the new ETS Soil Warrior, growers are able to "construct a total tillage zone," which allows them to sequester more carbon, build up the soil's organic matter, improve fertilizer efficiency, cover more acres faster and add dollars to the bottom line.

The Soil Warrior works for both fall and spring tillage. In the fall, a unique "cog wheel" setup deep-tills a zone 10 inches wide (8-12 inches deep) and applies nutrients while forming an even, elevated berm on the exposed strips — without disturbing soil and residue outside the zone.

In the spring, the shallow tillage setup (featuring dual wavy coulters) forms a clean seedbed zone that's aerated, warm, dry and mellow for planting timeliness, quick seed germination and strong early plant growth. Another added benefit? Owners are able to start their tillage operations sooner and produce superior seed zones without smearing or shearing the soil structure.

In addition, the Soil Warrior enables growers to combine fertilizer placement with both tillage operations — saving labor, time, fuel and money and eliminating other unnecessary implements. Serrated containment coulters help incorporate fertilizer and residue within the tilled zones. They're also adjustable to match berm height to soil conditions and expectations.

"This is probably the most comprehensive 'total zone management tillage system' in the industry today," says Keith LaCanne, Marketing Director for ETS. "It eliminates many of the problems inherent with shank-style strip-till units because it doesn't shear and smear soil. It also doesn't cause compaction, slabbing, or form erodible strips within your fields. Plus, it eliminates shank damage and the hassle of shanks constantly tripping when operating in tough conditions."

Soil Warrior row units are designed to handle tough zone-building conditions — wet/damp soils, hard/dry soils, heavy corn-on-corn residue, heavy green residue, pasture, alfalfa, grain stubble, even hard-pack manure conditions. Heavy-duty air springs maintain on-the-go adjustable air down pressure to match field conditions. Tractor and Soil Warrior™ cart wheels drive on existing stalks or stubble to limit compaction. Seed is never planted in the wheel track.

Soil Warrior comes in seven different sizes and models, ranging from 6R30 and 8R30 sizes (rigid frame) to up to 8R30, 12R30 and 16R30 (single and double folding toolbars). Row -spacing setups of 20, 22, 30, 36, 38, and 40 inches are available.

For more, send an e-mail to: Keith@soilwarrior.com.