Soybean Yield Response to Long-term No-tillage Across Contrasting Ohio Soils

Since 1962, researchers at The Ohio State University have studied how no-tillage affects soil health and crop yields through the Triplett-Van Doren no-tillage and crop rotation experiment (soilfertility.osu.edu/research/long-term-tillage-plots). Building on over six decades of data (1962–2024), de Camargo Santos et al. (2025) compared three tillage practices—moldboard plow, chisel plow, and no-tillage—and their long-term effects on soybean yields. This factsheet shares key findings from this ongoing research.

The research took place at two locations in Ohio with different soils: Wooster (Wayne County), which has well-drained silt-loam soil; and Hoytville (Wood County), which has poorly drained clay-loam soil (Figure 1). Research at these two locations helped to demonstrate how soil type affects the outcomes of different tillage practices.

Key Findings

Soybean performance under no-tillage versus tillage systems

In Wooster, no-till had the highest average soybean yield at 39 bushels per acre with a yearly yield gain of 0.3 bushels per acre.

In comparison, Wooster’s chisel plow had significantly lower yields with 35 bushels per acre, but a similar yearly yield gain of 0.4 bushels per acre (Table 1).

In Hoytville, chisel plow had the highest average yield at 46 bushels per acre with a yearly gain of 0.4 bushels per acre. No-till was close behind with 45 bushels per acre and the highest annual yield gain of 0.6 bushels per acre.

Moldboard plow systems consistently produced lower yields—33 bushels per acre in Wooster and 43 bushels per acre in Hoytville—which was behind other systems by 2–5 bushels per acre. These results show the use of the moldboard plow can significantly reduce yields and hurt farm profitability over time. While moldboard plowing was very common at the start of this research in the 1960s, in most modern farming systems it is now rarely used due to its high soil disturbance and the availability of more sustainable alternatives.

Long-term soybean yield trends varied by soil type

Historical data from the Triplett-Van Doren experiment show that both no-till and chisel plow systems led to higher soybean yields over time compared to the moldboard plow (Figure 2). In Wooster’s silt-loam soils, no-till has consistently produced the best results since the Triplett-Van Doren research began in the 1960s. In Hoytville’s clay-loam soils, soybean yields initially dropped when no-till was introduced. But over the past 30 to 40 years, that trend reversed. Thanks to improvements in equipment, management, seed treatments, and crop varieties, no-till now outperforms other tillage systems—even in Hoytville (Figure 2).

No-till can help farmers lower production costs and, with experience, improve crop yields (Cusser et al., 2020). A global review of no-till research found that yield results depend on many factors, including the type of crop, how much water is available, how crop residues are managed, the rotations used, and how long no-till has been practiced (Pittelkow et al., 2015). Legume crops, including soybeans, often perform as well or better in no-till than in tilled fields, especially in dry years.

In Ohio, soybean yields immediately improved after no-till was introduced around 1964–1965 in Wooster’s well-drained soils. In contrast, no-till yields were lower in Hoytville’s poorly drained soils from the 1960s until around 1980. These early challenges are consistent with other studies from humid regions with poorly drained, heavy-clay soils where no-till systems can struggle at first (Al-Kaisi et al., 2016). Over time, however, no-till improves soil structure, resulting in crop yields that often exceed those in tilled systems (Cusser et al, 2020). These improvements come from several soil changes that happen under no-till. For example, soil aggregation increases, making it easier for roots to grow. More pore space forms, improving water infiltration and reducing runoff. Earthworms and other soil organisms also become more active in undisturbed soils, mixing in organic matter and helping improve drainage.

An important aspect of soybean responses to no-till is acknowledging that the early years (1962–1980) of the Triplett-Van Doren experiment in Ohio faced significant challenges. At the time, there was limited knowledge about no-till pest control, few herbicide options, and a lack of equipment suited for high-residue fields (Triplett et al., 1963). These issues reduced potential crop performance in the initial years of the experiment. But with better planters, improved crop protection tools, and decades of farmer and researcher experience, no-till has become a much more effective and reliable system.

Points to Ponder and Looking Ahead

Soil and weather are the biggest factors affecting crop yields and profits when comparing no-till to tilled systems across the United States (Toliver et al., 2012). Improvements in crop performance resulting from changes in land management often take time to appear—especially when they depend on slow processes like soil structure development and organic matter buildup. The benefits of no-till grow over time as farmers gain experience and adapt their management strategies. This is why long-term experiments are so valuable. Long-term experiments help us understand how farm practices perform beyond the transition phase and show what happens after years of consistent management.

In the Triplett-Van Doren crop rotation and no-till experiment, soybean yields increased by up to 5 bushels per acre when shifting from moldboard plow to no-till. The yield improvements were greater in silt-loam soil than in heavy-clay soil, showing how soil type affects results when adopting new practices. While crop rotation effects were not studied in soybean systems, results from the Triplett-Van Doren experiment showed that adding forage crops under no-till increased corn yields by up to 30 bushels per acre (de Camargo Santos et al. 2025). This suggests that integrating forage crops—whether through cover crops or crop-livestock systems—may help farmers get more benefits from no-till.

Research shows that after five or more years of no-till, crop yields often surpass those of tilled systems (Cusser et al., 2020; Pittelkow et al., 2015). However, most studies focus on the first few years after adoption of no-till and mainly reflect the transition period. Long-term research, like the Triplett-Van Doren study, is key to understanding the full impact of no-till practices over time. Moreover, even though moldboard plowing is no longer widely used, this experiment clearly demonstrates its lasting drawbacks, with yields consistently lagging behind other tillage practices at both experiment sites. These research plots continue to serve as a valuable resource, helping farmers in Ohio and beyond adopt practices that support crop productivity and soil health.

Additional Resources

For more information on increasing soybean yields, check out the following resources:

• Soil Fertility website by The Ohio State University
  (soilfertility.osu.edu/home)
• Tillage intensity and conservation cropping in the United States
  (ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details?pubid=90200)

References

Al-Kaisi, M. M., Archontoulis, S., & Kwaw-Mensah, D. (2016). Soybean spatiotemporal yield and economic variability as affected by tillage and crop rotation. Agronomy Journal, 108(3), 1267–1280.
doi.org/10.2134/agronj2015.0363

Cusser, S., Bahlai, C., Swinton, S. M., Robertson, G. P., & Haddad, N. M. (2020). Long-term research avoids spurious and misleading trends in sustainability attributes of no-till. Global Change Biology, 26(6), 3715–3725.
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15080

de Camargo Santos, A., Culman, S. W., Deiss, L. (2025). Sixty years of crop diversification with perennials improves yields more than no-tillage in Ohio grain cropping systems. Field Crops Research, 109993.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109993

Pittelkow, C. M., Linquist, B. A., Lundy, M. E., Liang, X. Q., van Groenigen, K. J., Lee, J., van Gestel, N., Six, J., Venterea, R. T., & van Kessel, C. (2015). When does no-till yield more? A global meta-analysis. Field Crops Research, 183, 156–168.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.07.020

Toliver, D. K., Larson, J. A., Roberts, R. K., English, B. C., Ugarte, D. G. D., & West, T. O. (2012). Effects of no-till on yields as influenced by crop and environmental factors. Agronomy Journal, 104(2), 530–541.
doi.org/10.2134/agronj2011.0291

Triplett, G. B., Johnson, W. H., & Van Doren, D. M. (1963). Performance of two experimental planters for no-tillage corn culture. Agronomy Journal, 55(4), 408–409.
doi.org/10.2134/agronj1963.00021962005500040036