Soil and crop response to varying planter’s downforce in corn and cotton fields

Authors: OLIVEIRA, LUAN - University Of Georgia; ORTIZ, BRENDA - Auburn University; PATE, GREGORY - Auburn University; Way, Thomas; SILVA, ROUVERSON - University Of São Paulo

Submitted to: Smart Agricultural Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2025
Publication Date: 1/22/2025
Citation: Oliveira, L., Ortiz, B., Pate, G., Way, T.R., Silva, R. 2025. Soil and crop response to varying planter’s downforce in corn and cotton fields. Smart Agricultural Technology. 10:100798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.100798.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.100798

Interpretive Summary: When a crop is planted, it is important to achieve good seed-soil contact and proper seeding depth. A row-crop planter can be equipped with an automatic downforce system which uses a hydraulic system to control the downward force of each planter row unit on the soil. We conducted a field experiment growing corn and cotton on a clay loam and a sandy loam soil, using planter row unit downforce levels of 0, 550, 1100, and 1800 N. We used a static mode and a dynamic mode of the downforce system. The dynamic mode provided more accurate and consistent vertical load of the planter row units on the soil, compared to the static mode, which often exceeded target loads. Increased downforce caused greater seeding depths, particularly with the dynamic mode, and higher loads in the static mode resulted in greater variability. For corn in the clay loam soil, higher static downforce improved seed-soil contact, enhancing emergence and plant height. Conversely, for cotton in the sandy loam soil, there were no significant differences in emergence or plant height, and this probably was caused by soil moisture conditions and target depth. We conclude that dynamic downforce systems offer superior control of planter row unit vertical load, enhancing corn emergence and growth in heavier soils, while further research is recommended to optimize settings for various crops and soil conditions.

Technical Abstract: Effective planter downforce is crucial for optimizing seed placement and improving crop emergence and growth. This study examines the impact of different downforce settings on soil compaction, seeding depth, and crop performance for corn and cotton. Two field experiments were implemented using a John Deere 6145R tractor and a 6-row John Deere planter equipped with a DeltaForce hydraulic downforce system in Shorter, Alabama, during the 2020 growing season. Multiple planter’s downforce levels (0, 550, 1100, and 1800 N) were tested in both static and dynamic modes across two fields with distinct soil types (clay loam and sandy loam). Results indicated that the dynamic downforce mode provided more accurate and consistent load distribution compared to the static mode, which often exceeded target loads. Increased downforce led to deeper seeding depths, particularly with the dynamic mode, and higher loads in the static mode resulted in greater variability. For corn in clay loam soil, higher static downforce improved seed-to-soil contact, enhancing emergence and plant height. Conversely, cotton in sandy loam soil showed no significant differences in emergence or plant height, likely due to soil moisture conditions and target depth. The study concludes that dynamic downforce systems offer superior load control and uniformity, enhancing corn emergence and growth in heavier soils, while further research is recommended to optimize settings for various crops and soil conditions.