ntensive rainfall and resulting erosive water flows can
cause soil erosion even in no-till planted corn fields. The following images
are from my research plots in northeastern Indiana that were planted no-till
into soybean stubble on April 18. Intense rainfall on May 9 resulted in
significant sheet erosion, especially down the seed furrows. Seedlings were
carried away with the water flow in places. In other sections of row, the
seedlings remained anchored in place but were nearly completely exposed by the
erosion of topsoil.
Even though the seedlings were technically alive four days later when I visited the field, dessication of exposed roots and mesocotyls or damage to the exposed kernels by foraging birds and other critters leave little hope for a productive life by these affected seedlings.