Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 3, 1995
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract:
Sweep cultivation is a viable option for weed control in no-till, but its benefits in terms of soil physical properties have been questioned. No-till plots established in 1985 with controlled traffic, a corn-soybean rotation, and annual sweep cultivation were divided into cultivated and uncultivated plots in 1992. Measurements of bulk density, surface residue, aggregate stability, corn black layer shoot dry weight, and grain yield were made in each of three years. Average bulk density of the 0- to 7.6-cm layer before cultivation was affected more by wheel traffic than by cultivation. In one year, cultivation reduced bulk density and surface residue. Alternately, bulk density measurements in 2-cm increments after cultivation showed that cultivated no-till had higher bulk densities in some surface layers probably due to compaction by the sweep and displacement of loose soil to the row. Cultivation did not affect aggregate stability, black layer shoot weight, or yield.
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