Comparative performance of six planter attachments in two residue management corn production systems

V Dadi,M H Raoufat

doi:10.5424/sjar/2012104-2817

Abstract

Field performance of six combinations of planter attachments on a conventional row-crop planter in two residue management corn production systems was evaluated. The management systems consisted of baled-out residue plots worked by a single pass of disc harrow (RMS1) or untouched residue plots worked by a single pass of chisel plow followed by a disc harrow (RMS2); both systems were planted by a row crop planter with one out of six attachments. Results revealed that both systems fell within residue cover limits defined for conservation farming. The winged chisel furrow opener preceded by a row cleaner equipped with treader wheels (WCRT) arrangement removed appreciable amounts of residues on the row for both systems, but more residues were removed for RMS2 plots. The WCRT pushed almost double amount of residue aside. In spite of higher initial residue in RMS2, chisel plowing and subsequent disc harrowing reduced more residues paving the way for planting in a more seeding depth. Higher percentage of emergence rate index was noticed for RMS2 plots. For both systems, the WCRT and chisel furrow opener preceded by a row cleaner (CR) showed the maximum and minimum quality of feed index, respectively. However this index was higher for RMS2 plots. The WCRT and CR arrangements had the minimum and the maximum multiple index values, respectively. However this index decreased significantly in RMS2 plots compared to RMS1 plots. The RMS2 treatments showed lower values of precision index, which is favorable. The results suggest that adoption of WCRT to planters in soil prepared under RMS2 is useful for a satisfactory conservation crop production system.

Highlights

One of the important concerns encountering in conservation agricultural systems is non-uniformity in seed spacings and amount of residues retained when using conventional crop production systems in fields with previous residue. Siemens & Wilkins (2006) reported that both stand establishment and seedling dry weight in residue baled-out levels are significantly higher than those for untouched residue fields
Fallahi & Raoufat (2008) evaluated field performance of a conventional row-crop planter with three types of planter attachment in three tillage systems
The residue management systems consisted of baledout residue plots worked by a single pass of disc harrow (RMS1) or untouched residue plots worked by a single pass of chisel plow followed by a disc harrow (RMS2); both systems were planted by a row crop planter with one out of six attachments

Summary

Introduction

One of the important concerns encountering in conservation agricultural systems is non-uniformity in seed spacings and amount of residues retained when using conventional crop production systems in fields with previous residue. Siemens & Wilkins (2006) reported that both stand establishment and seedling dry weight in residue baled-out levels are significantly higher than those for untouched residue fields. Fallahi & Raoufat (2008) evaluated field performance of a conventional row-crop planter with three types of planter attachment (plain rolling coulter, row cleaner and a row cleaner followed by plain rolling coulter) in three tillage systems (single pass of disc harrow, three passes of disc harrow and single pass of disc harrow followed by chisel plowing). They reported that row-crop planter equipped with row cleaner followed by rolling coulter increased quality of feed index (QFI); the improvement amounted to 37.7%. According to Needham (2009) adding aluminum treader wheels to row cleaner allows the unit to be carried across softer areas of the soil surface and contours of the ground without gouging

Objectives

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Results