Fertilizer application... strip till vs broadcast

We have been using strip till for 3 years now. The comment about RTK and a skilled operator is spot on. Getting the work done in the fall here in Minnesota is very critical so finding the right days and nights for doing your strips is important. We found a decent 12 row twin bin machine that is entry level and are doing about 1500 acres a year. from what we have learned, it doesn't pay to stri...

I've been wanting to do strips for several years now. I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger for a couple reasons: 1) with <1000 acres and the information I have, I can't seem to ROI the equipment price, 2) dry vs liquid, and 3) how much is the fertilizer efficiency (ie. yield gain) worth?

I like the idea of Brad's setup (above). What's a budget for something like that?

I've considered...

I wouldn't exactly classify what I am doing as strip till but started using a dual placement NH3 and dry fertilizer applicator from AgSynergy about 4 years ago. No till and broadcast P and K for many years prior to this.

I love the idea of getting the P and K down closer to the root zone of my corn and think it has made yields more consistent over all types of ground.

The AgSynergy applicator doe...

I’ve been strip tilling since the mid 90’s. Obviously I like it. Save on fertilizer expense and yields have increased and been more consistent.

Drawbacks are

1. A skilled operator is needed to run equipment , there’s a lot going on. I VRT NPK and things don’t always run like there suppose to.

2. RTK is needed, if you don’t plant on the strip it’s a waist of time.

3. Slow, I’m lucky to get 240...

Broadcast application of P in no till is not very efficient since P is a fairly immobile nutrient. Strip till is way more efficient and you can reduce your P and K rates by a third vs broadcast. Just make sure you do it in the fall so soil has time to settle over winter and don’t have air pockets. Make sure you pay attention to the down force on the row units on the planter that you’re get prope...

It’ll work well for row crops. Small grains either broadcast it or if you have an airseeder put it on that way.

We’ve tried strip till twice. 1st was with an orthman and the tool was good, not great. Too many bearings, but the biggest issue was we tried that time in a drought. Nothing worked in those years. Next time we tried with a homemade setup we bought. Worked great the 1st year, mixed resul...