Why Crop Row Ends Are Shorter: Compaction and Fertilizer Skip

Plants at row ends are shorter due to soil compaction from equipment turning, and farmers often stop fertilizing early to avoid waste on turns. Deep tillage at ends can mitigate compaction.

Albert Ashby theorizes: End compaction from heavy equipment turning and haul roads limits water infiltration and root growth. Midwest farmers deep-till ends in fall for winter freeze-thaw improvement.