Influence of Conservation‐Tillage Environments on Growth and Productivity of Corn¹

Abstract

Research on growth responses of corn (Zea mays L.) to environmental conditions associated with conservation‐tillage systems has not been extensively conducted. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate effects of various tillage systems (fall moldboard plow, till‐plant, no‐till ridge with and without previous‐crop residue) and early planting on growth and productivity of several corn genotypes (including two heterogeneous breeding populations that were improved for cold tolerance by recurrent selection). The experiment was conducted for 2 years on a loam soil (Typic Hapludoll), and planting dates were 1 Apr. 1974, and 30 Apr. 1975. Conservation‐tillage systems were associated with lower midafternoon soil temperatures (at 5‐cm depth) during the early growing season and more variability in depth of seed placement. Also, seedling and juvenile plant growth, final plant densities, and grain yields were lower in conservation‐tillage systems. These differences were accentuated in the early planting environment of the 1974 experiment. With a relatively normal planting date and equal final plant densities (the not affected by tillage treatment. There was no interaction between tillage method and com genotype. Usually, genotypes with vigorous seedling and juvenile plant growth and high final plant stands produced highest grain yields in all tillage environments. In the central U.S. Corn Belt, therefore, optimum corn grain yields in conservation‐tillage environments will be obtained by the use of planters that assure uniform seed depth and genotypes that display vigorous plant growth and development.

Maize hybrid response to tillage under irrigated and dryland conditions

“…These results are consistent with the reports by Mock and Erbach ( 1977 ) , Hallauer and Colvin ( 1985 ), Anderson ( 1986), and Newhouse and Crosbie ( 1986), but contradict results of Brakke et al ( 1983 ) and Carter and Barnett ( 1987 ) . The study by Brakke et al ( 1983) was also conducted in the Central Plains, but tested the response of a very wide range of cultivars to cropping systems, combinations of tillage practice and water management (fallow or irrigation).…”

“…Conservation tillage systems are management strategies which reduce loss of soil and water relative to conventional tillage, through use of non-inversion tillage and retention of crop residues on the soil surface (Anonymous, 1982). Several studies have been conducted to define the response of maize to various tillage practices ( Alessi and Power, 197 1 ;Barber, 197 1;Mock and Erbach, 1977;Wilhelm et al, 1987). Generally, this research has indicated variability in the response of maize to tillage practice because of differences in soil temperature and water content.…”

Competition between corn and a living mulch

“…Although soil temperature was not measured in this study, others have reported lower soil temperatures under mulches and in no-till conditions compared with bare soil and especially as it became drier (Adams et al 1970;Mock and Erbach 1977). Soils in Atlantic Canada are often saturated early in the growing season (Gartley et al1986).…”

Phosphorus and potassium placement for corn and soybean managed with two conservation tillage systems

“…Another result of residue or mulch cover in conservation tillage is an increase of soil moisture in the rooting profile (Burrows and Larsen, 1962;Barber, 1971;Blevins et aI., 1971;Bennet et aI., 1973;Griffith et aI., 1973;Mock and Erbach, 1977;Johnson and Lowery, 1985;Kladivko et aI., 1986;Lowery, 1986 andCarter and Barnett, 1987;Imholte and Carter, 1987;Cox et aI., 1990;Fortin, 1993). This is highly beneficial to production agriculture in areas where optimum rainfall does not always occur.…”

“…Colder temperatures tend to reduce growth and P and K diffusion to roots. Early growth of com is often reduced in no-till and mulch till in the Northern Com Belt compared with conventional tillage due to cooler soil temperatures (Griffith et aI., 1973;Mock and Erbach, 1977;AI-Darby and Lowery, 1986;Carter and Barnett, 1987;Imholte and Carter, 1987;Swan et aI., 1987;Kaspar et aI., 1990;Fortin and Pierce, 1991). Although delayed early growth and development under conservation tillage systems seldom reduces grain yield because corn often attains physiological maturity before a killing freeze in the fall (Swan et aI., 1987;Cox et aI., 1990).…”