LONG TERM EVALUATION OF NO-TILL CORN AND SOYBEAN CROPPING SYSTEMS IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Applied Research
Jim Crawford
Field Specialist in Agricultural Engineering
ROCK PORT
Abstract
Erosion of topsoil is a major concern in northwest Missouri. The combination of wind-blown loess soils and river bottom clays subject to annual flooding makes erosion a fact of farming in this region. A two-fold demonstration on the benefits of no-till systems in corn and soybeans was established with the goal to show the reduction in erosion as well as yield and profitability comparisons. The three most common tillage systems practiced in this region, fall and spring disk, spring disk, and fall chisel and spring disk, were compared to a no-till system. Each plot consisted of eight, 30-inch rows, 250 feet in length. All plots received the same inputs with the exception of the tillage. Yield results were taken from the center six rows of each plot. Nineteen years of data have been collected for corn and nine years for soybeans. These results show no significant yield differences between the treatments. As expected, the weather plays a pre-eminent role in yield each year with no-till providing the most consistent yields on a yearly basis. An additional six plots were established on a 13%-slope hillside with the runoff from each plot caught and weighed to demonstrate erosion control through no-till. The ten year data showed a loss of 5.8 tons/year of top soil for a no-till rotation of corn and soybeans versus a loss of 64.9 tons/acre of topsoil for conventionally tilled plots.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: J.J.W. Crawford*
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Crawford*, J. Natural Resource Engineering Specialiist, University of Missouri Extension, Missouri, 64482