Double Cropping Systems Involving No‐Tillage and Conventional Tillage¹

Abstract

This study was prompted by the huge feed grain deficits which increase annually in the Southeast. The need exists to find ways of increasing grain production efficiently. Cropping‐tillage systems designed to accomplish this were studied. Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] were double cropped following wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on a Blackbelt soil. No‐tillage and conventional tillage methods were compared for soybeans and grain sorghum; Conventional tillage was used for wheat. The 2‐year average yield of soybeans was 1,708 kg/ha (25.4 bu/acre) for no‐tillage and 2,250 kg/ha (33.4 acre) for conventional tillage. This difference was significant (P = .05) and was due mainly to lack of nutsedge (Cyperus sp.) control by herbicide alone in no‐tillage plots. In the third year when the crop was hand‐hoed, no yield differences occurred due to tillage methods. The 2‐year average yield of grain sorghum was 3,249 kg/ha (48.3 bu/acre) for no‐tillage and 3,868 kg/ha (57.5 bu/acre) for conventional tillage. When the crop was handhoed yield of grain sorghum was significantly higher for no‐tillage (5,072 vs 4.335 kg/ha). Wheat grown after soybeans yielded significantly (P = .05) more than wheat grown after grain sorghum. This difference was attributed primarily to the bneficial effect of residual N from the previous crop of soybeans. Based on current costs and prices, the soybean‐wheat double cropping system produced significantly higher net returns over specified production costs than the wheat. grain sorghum system.

Response of no-till and conventionally planted grain sorghum to weed control method and row spacing

“…Similar results were reported by Langdale et al (1984), Sanford et al (1973), Elkins et al (1980), and Lal (1981. In no-till systems chemicals gave significantly better weed control because the pre-plant application of glyphosate killed existing weeds and the postemergence application of atrazine gave effective residual weed control.…”

“…They reported that grain sorghum in rotation with soybeans in double cropping systems increased yield of both sorghum and soybeans. Sanford et al (1973) studied double cropping systems involving no-till and conventional tillage and found that there were differences in time of emergence and in plant height because of soil moisture differences in the seed placement zone. Elkins et al (1980) found that no-till soybean production in grass sod was highly successful.…”

Effects of Tillage Systems on Southern Blight and Pod Yields of Five Runner Peanut Genotypes

“…A Significant genotype x tillage system interaction was apparent for SMK + SS. TX835820 and TX835841 grades were Significantly lower with no-tillage systems while other cultivars produced no significant changes in grade.Key Words: Groundnut, Sclerotium rolfsii, southern blight, notillage, minimum-tillage.The use of minimum-tillage and no-tillage production practices has reduced production costs in com, grain sorghum, soybeans, and other crops (1,10,13,14,15,16,18,19,21). However, limited research (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11) has been reported with the use ofno-tillage cultural practices in peanuts.…”

Radish Planting Date and Nitrogen Rate for Cover Crop Production and the Impact on Corn Yields in Upstate Missouri

“…The timing of establishing a second crop early can be important because, after 1 Dec., the rate of decline in yield with delayed sowing is about 1.3% per day for sole-crops and 0.5% per day for double-crops (Caviglia et al, 2011). Sanford et al (1973) observed that no-till double-crop systems provided the least delay in establishing a second crop. Water available to plants affected winter wheat grain production in a study of tillage and N rates on wheat production (Halverson et al, 1999).…”