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Title: USING STRIP TILLAGE TO MANAGE SEED ZONE SOIL TEMPERATURE IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA

Author
item EASH, NEAL - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Sauer, Thomas
item Prueger, John

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aggressive, full width, deep tillage following harvest of corn or soybean is common in southwest Minnesota. Farmers cite numerous reasons for fall tillage including warmer springtime soil temperatures, easier planting, decreases in disease and insect pressure, and timeliness. Erosion losses, however, are frequent and substantial where aggressive fall tillage minimizes crop residue cover. Management strategies are needed that provide bare soil in the intrarow while maintaining interrow residue cover. Strip tillage may be an option because it maintains interrow residue cover while providing a residue-free zone approximately 15-cm wide in the intrarow area. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three tillage systems (no-till, strip-till, and chisel plow) on early-season soil thermal regime and crop growth for corn planted into soybean residue on a Ves silt loam. In plots with contrasting tillage treatments, we measured seed zone temperatures at the 5-cm depth in the intra-and interrow positions. Soil heat flux, net radiation, and wind speed were also recorded for approximately one month after planting in 2000. Results from this study indicate that strip tillage may be a viable option for producers because intrarow soil temperature values were similar under very contrasting tillage practices while adequate residue cover was maintained for soil erosion control.