Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Agronomic Crops Team On-Farm Research Projects 1998

Special Circular 166-99


Chisel Vs. No-Till Soybeans Following Corn

Dennis Baker, Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent

Objective

The objective of this trial was to determine the effect of tillage on soybean yields when following corn in a field with a four-year no-till history.

Cooperator:Darke County Farm Fertilizer:100#/A 0-46-0 broadcast
Nearest Town:Greenville125 #/A 0-0-60 broadcast
Major Soil Type:MiamiHerbicides:1.5 pt. Roundup pre-emerge
Drainage:Tile3 oz. Firstrate pre-emerge
Previous Crop:Corn1.5 pt. Roundup post-emerge
Soil Test:pH 6.8 Planting Rate:175,000 seeds/A
P 51 ppm30 inch rows
K 149 ppmHybrid:Countrymark 3975

Methods

A replicated study using five replicates in a randomized complete block design was planned to determine whether tillage affected soybean yields when following corn. Individual strip plots were 15' x 1,465' in size. The field had been in a no-till corn and soybean rotation for at least the past four years. The tilled plots were prepared using a chisel plow and disk unit followed by two passes with a conventional disk. Countrymark 3975 was planted on May 16 into adequate moisture.

Results

TreatmentAvg. Yield (Bu/A)
No-till47.05
Chisel47.65

F = 1.6 No significant difference among treatment means at P = 0.05, CV = 1.6%, LSD = 1.3 bu/A.
No significant difference among treatment means at P = 0.20, LSD = 0.7 bu/A

Summary and Notes

Emergence was uniform in all plots and soybeans looked very good all summer. There was no significant yield increase when using tillage on this particular site when planting soybeans after corn in a field with a four-year no-till history.

For additional information, contact:
Dennis Baker
Ohio State University Extension, Darke County
700 Wayne St.
Greenville, OH 45331
(937) 548-5215
baker.5@osu.edu


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