Monday, November 5, 2007 - 10:20 AM
53-4
Strip-Tillage for Corn Production in High Residue Systems.
Walter Gordon, Kansas State University - Plant Pathology, 701 23rd Street, Belleville, KS 66935
Production systems that limit tillage are being used by an increasing number of producers because of several inherent advantages. These include reduction of soil erosion losses, increased soil water use efficiency and improved soil quality. The large amount of surface residue present in no-tillage systems can reduce seed zone temperatures which can result in reduced root growth and nutrient uptake. Strip-tillage may provide an environment that preserves the advantages of no-tillage, while providing a seed bed that is similar to that of conventional tillage. Experiments were conducted in north-central Kansas on a Crete silt loam soil to compare strip-tillage to no-tillage, and to assess the effects of nutrient placement and timing of application on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of corn. Fertilizer was placed either directly under the row or just to side of the row either in the fall or in the spring at planting. When corn or wheat was the previous crop, strip-tillage shortened the time from emergence to mid-silk, reduced grain moisture content at harvest, increased nutrient uptake at the 6-leaf stage and improved yield of corn when compared to no-tillage. Soil temperature at planting depth was consistently warmer in the strip-tilled plots than in the no-tillage plots for the first 20-30 days after planting. When soybeans was the previous crop, some advantage to strip-tillage over no-tillage was seen, but early growth and yield increases were small compared to increases seen when planting into higher residue situations. No differences were seen in fertilizer placement or timing of application.