Yield and Nitrogen Content of Corn under Different Tillage Practices

Abstract

Furthermore, tillage practices cause soil disturbance, which may contribute to a decline in available soil N The objective of the study was to determine whether tillage and (Stevenson, 1965; McCarthy et al., 1995) due to mineralresidue practices have a significant effect on the yield and N content of corn (Zea mays L.) under nonlimiting soil N conditions. Nitrate ization of organic matter, which is vulnerable to oxileaching has been identified as a source of non-point-source pollution. dation.By identifying tillage practices which maximize corn N uptake, recom-Soil N content is affected by tillage and residue pracmendations can be based on how to minimize N loss. A 2-year field tices, which subsequently influence crop N concentrastudy was conducted in southwestern Quebec on a 2.4-ha site of a tions. Changes in crop N may influence yield and plant Typic Endoaquent (Humic Gleysol) cropped to corn. Three types of growth. This study examines corn grain and stover N tillage practice (conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no-till) were content after harvest, and corn yield, as influenced by combined with two residue levels (with and without) in a randomized three tillage practices (conventional tillage, reduced tillcomplete block design. The effect of these practices on corn yield age, and no-till) in combination with two residue levels and corn N were studied. Seedling emergence rates in spring, and corn (with residue and without). Our objectives were to (i) moisture content at harvest, were also monitored. Residues hindered initial plant emergence in the no-till plots. Corn N and moisture N ha Ϫ1 was applied as (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 (diammonium phosphate; 18-46-0 N-P-K), banded 5 cm beside and 5 cm below the residues.seed. Three weeks after planting, 140 kg N ha Ϫ1 and 58 kg K ha Ϫ1 were applied as a urea-KCl mixture (26-0-13) in 1996, and as NH 4 NO 3 and KCl (26-0-13) in 1997. The timing and tems Engineering, and G.R. Mehuys, Natural Resource Sciences Dep., dates of herbicide applications are shown in Table 1. The NT

In-Row Subsoil Tillage and Planting Depth Influence on Corn Plant Population and Yield on Sandy-Textured Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Soils

“…No compaction or surface crusting would be expected for these soils under these conditions. This lack of consistent response to tillage has also been reported by Licht and Al-Kaisi (10) and by Mehdi et al (12).…”

Crop Residue Removal Impacts on Soil Productivity and Environmental Quality

“…Thick crop residue cover can reduce crop emergence particularly in temperate climates with cool and wet soils during the spring (Mehdi et al, 1999). Thus, a judicious removal of residue mulch can promote early emergence.…”

Impact of different tillage practices on soil physical properties, nitrate leaching and yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L.)

“…The enhanced water movement through soil macro pores in the profile increases the potential of soluble nitrates movement under no tillage scenario (Ahmad et al, 2009). Ground water pollution, due to nitrate (NO 3 -) leaching, causes serious problems concerning human health and the environment in many developing as well as developed countries (Benbi et al, 1991, Carman 1997, Wilson et al, 1999 Mehdi et al, (1999) and Sainju and Singh (2001) concluded that the application of tillage practice in crop production system is important for the plant growth as it affects soil environmental components. It can also have its influence on the N availability and N pool status for maintaining proper nutrient levels in the soil environment system.…”