Corn Response, Nitrogen Uptake, and Water Use in Strip‐Tillage Compared with No‐Tillage and Chisel Plow

Abstract

Tillage systems are among the many factors that affect soil productivity. The challenges associated with different tillage systems have prompted the need to compare corn (Zea mays L.) production under strip‐tillage (ST), chisel plow (CP), and no‐tillage (NT) systems. The study was conducted on two Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms in 2001 and 2002. One site was at the Agronomy Research and Demonstration Farm near Ames, IA, where the soils were Nicollet loam (Aquic Hapludolls) and Webster silty clay loam (Typic Haplaquolls). The second site was at the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm near Nashua, IA, where the soils were Kenyon loam (Typic Hapludolls) and Floyd loam (Aquic Hapludolls). Corn final emergence rate index was slightly higher in ST than either NT or CP. Grain yield, dry matter production, and N uptake were generally similar in the three tillage systems. Soil moisture storage in the 0‐ to 30‐ and 0‐ to 120‐cm soil depths and grain water use efficiency show no significant differences between tillage systems. It was apparent that after 2 yr of ST, there were limited advantages for ST when compared with either NT or CP.