Strip tillage soil conditioner apparatus and method

A movable, row crop soil conditioner apparatus for conditioning soil prior to planting including a mechanism for first cutting a row length furrow opening in the soil when the soil conditioner is moved. A subsoiler is positioned behind the first cutting mechanism. It is selectively inserted into the furrow opening when the subsoiler is moved. The subsoiler includes a tooth, and a first pressure applicator for maintaining pressure on the soil directly and laterally on the subsoiler tooth when the tooth is inserted into the furrow opening. The tooth causes an eruption furrow in the furrow opening. The pressure applicator then controls the eruption soil wakes on either side of the subsoiler when the row crop conditioner is moved down a row. The subsoiler also includes a mechanism for turning the soil wakes on either side of the furrow inwardly towards each other to crush and shear the soil and to urge it downwardly into the eruption furrow, thereby closing the eruption furrow. A crop residue in the soil wakes is inserted downwardly into the eruption furrow to subsequently function as a wick and to pull moisture into the planted conditioned soil.