Corn development and crop yield response to ridge-planting systems on a poorly drained soil in southwestern Ontario

Abstract

Minimum-tillage systems have the advantage of reducing soil erosion as well as decreasing the amount of time and fuel necessary for land preparation. However, no-till and chisel plowing have resulted in decreased corn ( Zea mays L.) yields compared with moldboard plowing on poorly drained southern Ontario soils. Ridge planting was proposed as a more feasible option than other minimum-tillage systems on these soils. An experiment was conducted from 1983 to 1985 to examine various ridge-planting alternatives in comparison with no-till and moldboard-plow tillage systems for corn and soybeans ( Glycine max Merill). The ridge-planting treatments included no-till planting on the ridge top, removal of the ridge top while planting, rototilling the ridges, and chopping the corn stalks in the previous fall. Corn seedlings in the ridge-planting treatments emerged quicker than those in the no-till treatment, but slightly slower than those in the moldboard-plow treatment. Measurements of corn plant development and maturation showed little difference between ridge planting and moldboard plowing. Corn grain yield response to the tillage systems was not consistent over the 3 years. In 1984, corn grain yields were 8.02, 6.71 and 6.05 Mg ha −1 for the moldboard-plow, ridge-planting and no-till treatments, respectively. In 1985, the moldboard plow and most of the ridge-planting treatments were not significantly different, and no-till outyielded all other treatments. Over the 3 years of the experiment, soybean yields averaged 2.45, 2.39 and 1.79 Mg ha −1 for moldboard plowing, ridge planting and no-till, respectively. Among the ridge-planting treatments, rototilling the ridge top tended to produce better corn plant growth, lower ear moisture at harvest and higher grain yields than other ridge-planting treatments. Chopping the corn stalks the previous fall resulted in better corn growth and higher yields than not chopping. Results from this study indicate that a reduced-tillage system of ridge planting with tops rototilled could produce corn and soybean yields comparable to the conventional moldboard-plow tillage system on poorly drained soils.