Tillage systems for double-cropped wheat and soybean
1989
Touchton, J.T. | Sharpe, R.R. | Reeves, D.W.
Eliminating tillage operations can improve profits, but only if the elimination of tillage does not restrict yields or result in excessive use of herbicides and other chemicals. The objective of this study, conducted seven locations for 3 years was to identify the least amount of tillage needed for wheat grown in a double-cropping system with soybean. Tillage treatments prior to planting wheat each year consisted on no tillage, disking, chiseling, and moldboard plowing. Two methods of soil leveling after deep tillage (chisel and moldboard plow) were dragging and disking. Tillage prior to planting soybean consisted of no tillage and in-row subsoiling. When averaged across years and soils, no tillage resulted in 23, 30, and 31% lower wheat-grain yields than disking, chiseling, and moldboard plowing, respectively. On most soils, the adverse effects of no tillage increased with years. Disk tillage resulted in adequate yield in only two of the seven soils. Except for one soil, chiseling resulted in yields equal to moldboard plowing. Yields did not vary among leveling methods after deep tillage. Deep tillage prior to planting wheat eliminated the need for in-row subsoiling at soybean planting even on soils with root restricting tillage pans. In-row subsoiling at soybean planting did not eliminate the need of deep tillage prior to planting wheat. Judging from the relationship between yields and the amount of surface soil tilled, surface soil compaction, even on silt loam soils, may restrict wheat grain yields as much if not more than tillage pans.
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