Agronomic Crops Team On-Farm Research Projects 2002

Special Circular 190

Comparison of Strip-Tillage and Conventional Tillage in Corn Production

Dr. Steve Prochaska, Steve Ruhl, Mark Koenig, Gary Wilson, Andy Kleinschmidt, Jim O’Brien, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents
Gary Prill, Extension Associate

Objective

To evaluate the effect on corn of yield, test weight, and moisture of fall strip-tillage compared to fall conventional tillage.

Background

Methods

Six county locations were sites for a comparison of fall strip tillage to conventional tillage in corn production. Strip tillage was the use of a strip-till machine in the fall to build a berm upon which to plant corn the following spring. Conventional tillage was the use of a chisel plow in the fall, followed by a finishing tillage in the spring prior to planting the field. A completely randomized design was used at five of the six locations. Plot size varied by site. Sites were used as replications in the analysis of the data. All sites used a similar herbicide program. Previous crop was soybeans at all locations. In addition to yield, test weight, and moisture, attributes of the strip-tilled area (height of ridge, width of tilled area, and depth of the strip-tilled area) were also measured.

Results

Table 1. Corn Yield, Harvest Moisture, and Test Weight at Six Locations.

Summary

1. Because of the wet spring in Ohio, followed by widespread drought and high temperatures during the summer, there was a wide range of planting dates and yields across the six locations.
2. Yields, moisture, and test weight were not statistically different for strip-tillage and conventionally tilled ground across all the sites.
3. Measurements taken in the fall (five sites) found an average strip tillage depth of 7.4 inches.
4. Width of strip-tilled zone at the surface averaged 11 inches (four sites).
5. Average height of strip-tilled berm in the fall was 3.4 inches. By planting time the strips had flattened and were very difficult to see and follow accurately with the planter. This indicates a need for deeper tillage to form higher berms.
6. Residue measurements were taken at three sites with the average in excess of 37% for strip tillage.
7. Strip-tillage may compete with harvest operations because it should be completed as soon as possible after soybean harvest.
8. There are differences in strip-till equipment.
9. Strip-till provides the environmental benefit of reduced erosion.

For additional information, contact:
Steve Prochaska
Ohio State University Extension, Crawford County
117 East Mansfield Street
Bucyrus, OH 44820
419-562-8731
prochaska.1@osu.edu