Roots do the heavy lifting; don’t leave them unprotected. What you learn this season can shape smarter choices for the next.
There’s no doubt this growing season has shown us just how important it is to start strong. With all the variability in weather, soil moisture and pest pressure, crops have faced their fair share of challenges. But where there are challenges, there’s also opportunity, especially when it comes to planning your seed treatment strategy for next year.
One of the biggest levers you can pull to protect yield potential is root development. A strong, healthy root system sets the foundation for everything else — from nutrient uptake to stress tolerance to overall plant vigor. Yet, developing and maintaining those roots doesn’t come easy, especially when biotic and abiotic stressors are stacked against you.
As you scout your fields this summer, here are three things worth paying close attention to:
1. Evaluate Pest and Pathogen Pressure
Nematodes don’t take a break. Their pressure builds throughout the season, weakening root systems and quietly cutting yield potential. Other soilborne pathogens can hit hard too, especially when conditions are wet and warm. A sound seed enhancement plan should include protection against these threats from the start. Treatments that help defend roots early give plants the resilience they need later.
2. Implement a Soil Health Plan
If you’re not already thinking about post-harvest residue management, now’s the time to put it on your radar. What happens after harvest sets the stage for what your crop will face at planting. Healthy soil is the foundation of strong root development, and that begins with how you manage what’s left behind in the field.
Breaking down crop residue in the fall improves seedbed conditions and enhances microbial activity and soil structure. This creates a more favorable environment for next season’s roots to establish quickly, dig deeper, and access nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It also helps improve water infiltration and retention, giving plants a better shot at weathering dry spells early in the season.
A good soil health plan prepares your field for the long game. It allows roots to exude beneficial compounds that build connections with the soil biology, leading to better nutrient cycling and overall plant resilience. Small changes in residue and soil management can pay off in stronger emergence, more uniform stands and better yield stability.
3. Gauge Crop Uniformity
Speed to emergence matters. You’ll really notice it as crops move into tasseling and flowering. Uneven emergence can lead to uneven development, which makes harvest and yield performance a guessing game. Seed treatments that promote early vigor and emergence help set the crop on a more uniform path, improving standability, resilience and ultimately, performance.
Bottom line? This year is already shaping next year’s opportunity. Take time to observe, assess and adjust. Fine-tune your seed enhancement program to meet your operation’s specific needs. And remember, when you invest in root health, you’re investing in your yield potential from the ground up.
