Corn Yield Response to Tillage

• Different tillage practices are utilized by farmers for various reasons including:

  • Enhance residue decomposition
    
  • Control of pests
    
  • Conserve soil moisture
    
  • Deliver fertilizer to the root zone
    
  • Relieve soil compaction
    

• This trial has been repeated at the Monmouth Learning Center over the last three years to compare different tillage practices and to examine their impact on corn yield.

   

• Two SmartStax® RIB Complete® corn products were planted:
  
  • 108-day RM
    
  • 114-day RM
    
  • No difference was noted in corn product response, so the results were averaged together. 
    

• Three tillage practices were compared:

  • Conventional tillage with a chisel plow in the fall followed by one pass in the spring to prepare the seedbed for planting.
    
  • Strip tillage on 30-inch centers in the fall.
    
  • Vertical tillage in the fall. 
    

• The experiment was replicated five times. 

• Results were combined with the previous two years of data to produce a three-year average.

• In 2019, the conventionally-tilled plots underperformed compared to vertical tillage and strip tillage by 8.4 bu/acre and 2.8 bu/acre, respectively. These results were similar to previous years at the Learning Center (Figure 1).

• Although the results were not substantially different, the tendency at the Monmouth Learning Center has been for conventional tillage to underperform compared to reduced tillage practices.

  • This may be a result of multiple factors such as improved soil structure in reduced tillage fields or better water conservation.
    

• Reduced tillage practices may provide additional benefits besides yield, such as:

  • Reduced soil erosion 
    
  • Reduced nutrient loss
    
  • Reduced fuel costs
    

• Factors such as weather, soil type, or field topography may influence results.  Consult your local Field Sales Representative or Technical Agronomist for recommendations for your farm.

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