Effect of Nicosulfuron as Follow-Up Herbicide after Paraquat in Sweet Corn No-Tillage System

Special corn is cultivated all year conventionally round; however, its productivity increases when grown under a no-tillage system (NTS). This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of sweet and green corn cultivated under residues of different cover crops and the NTS implantation stages. Two experiments were carried out in the randomized block design, with four replications, in each of the three areas. The experiments consisted of evaluating the sweet and green corn, simultaneously, in three areas at different stages of development of NTS: initial (1 year), transition (7 years), and consolidation (19 years) with six types of cover crops: Signal grass (SG), Pearl millet (PM), Sunn hemp (SH), a mixture of SG + SH, SG + PM, and PM + SH. The dry matter (DM) production of the cover crops, the productivity of husked and unhusked ears, straw, and grain yield were evaluated. The SH had the highest dry mass production among the studied cover crops in all phases of the NTS. The phase of the NTS did not influence the productivity of ears with or without husk in green corn. The cultivation of sweet corn in transition and consolidation areas of the NTS showed better yields when compared to the initial phase of the system.

Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) cultivation can be done through variety selection technology use, fertilization, and the proper planting distance. One of the techniques used in sweet corn cultivation is planting distance and fertilization with NPK fertilizer. So, this study is critical in order to set the planting distance and NPK fertilizer dose to enhance sweet corn production. The goal of this study was to see how different planting distances and NPK fertilizer doses affected sweet corn production. The study was carried out in a rice field in Sambiroto Village, Padas District, at an elevation of ± 60 meters above sea level. It was conducted during January-May 2019. The method used was a factorial experiment with three replications based on a Randomized Block Design and two factors. The first factor is the planting distance, they are J1: 60 cm x 15 cm, J2: 60 cm x 20 cm, J3: 60 cm x 25 cm. The second factor is the NPK fertilizer dose, they are P0 = 0 kg / ha, P1 = 100 kg / ha, P2 = 200 kg / ha, P3 = 300 kg / ha. The results showed that (1) the J2 (60 x 20 cm) planting distance had the best effect on sweet corn cobs fresh weight per plant as well as per hectare without husks and sweet corn sugar content. (2) The NPK fertilizer dose of 300 kg/ha and planting distance of 60 x 20 cm resulted in optimal production on sugar content parameters. In conclusion, planting distance setting of 60 x 20 cm and NPK fertilizer dose of 300 kg / ha resulted in optimal production for sweet corn plant.

In the past decade, Indonesian interest towards sweet corn has increased. This condition creates a wide market opportunity for sweet corn. However, sweet corn cultivation in Indonesia is often constrained by low soil fertility. One of the essential nutrients needed by sweet corn is nitrogen. Nitrogen can be obtained from inorganic fertilizers such as Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) fertilizer. This research aimed to determine the effect and the best dosage of Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) in increasing N-total, N uptake, and yield of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) of Talenta variety on Jatinangor Inceptisol. This experiment was conducted at the research field of Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor from July to October 2020. The experimental design used in this research was Randomized Block Design (RDB), which consisted of nine treatments with 1 control treatment (without fertilizer), 1 standard single N, P, K fertilizer treatment, 3 dosages of Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) fertilizer treatment, and 4 combinations of Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) fertilizer with ¾ recommended dose of standard N, P, K fertilizer. The results showed that the combination of Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) fertilizer affected the total Nitrogen content, nitrogen uptake, and yield of sweet corn. Combination of 1 ¼ dose of Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl) fertilizer with ¾ recommended dose of standard N, P, K fertilizer show the highest increase in total nitrogen (0,24%), nitrogen uptake (2,72 g per plant), and fresh weight of the corn cobs (0,42 kg per plant).

Impacts of tillage and no-till on production of maize and soybean on an eroded Illinois silt loam soil

A tillage project was initiated in 1989 at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Research Center in southern Illinois to evaluate conservation tillage systems for land being removed from Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). No‐till (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP) tillage systems on a Grantsburg silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudalf) soil were studied. The soil has a fragipan at approximately 26 in. below the surface on a 6.5% east facing slope. The tillage treatments were replicated eight times on 30 by 40 ft plots. The area had been in tall fescue [ Festuca arundinacea (L.) Schreb.] sod. For the project, corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were grown on a 6‐yr rotation. Economic data were estimated for the three tillage systems using a simulation model to select equipment and estimate costs. The objective was to determine crop yields and to compare returns of the tillage treatments applied to CRP sod. Based on 6 yr of crop yield measurements (3 yr corn and 3 yr soybean), NT and CP systems appear to result in improved long‐term productivity of sloping soil compared with MP. Machinery requirements and costs were lower with NT than with the two other tillage systems. MP had the greatest machinery requirements and highest costs and highest corn yield only in 1989. Crop yields with the NT system improved compared with the yields with MP and CP systems each year with NT resulting in the highest crop yield in the fourth, fifth, and sixth years with the differences statistically significant the last two crop years. The NT system provided the highest net income and the MP system the lowest over the 6 yr study. Net income with NT system was $32/acre per yr higher than with the CP system (simple average without time valuation adjustment) and $40/acre per yr higher than with the MP system. The NT system reduced soil loss from erosion to below the current and future soil loss standards. Research Question The Food Security Act of 1985 and the 1990 Farm bill have resulted in millions of acres of erodible land previously in row crops being put into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). It is not known how long this program will be continued or what will happen to the land when it is released. Any conversion of CRP land back to corn and soybean production could require conservation tillage systems such as no‐till and chisel plow to meet soil erosion standards. Most farmers accept the fact that conservation tillage systems significantly reduce soil erosion and desire to adopt such systems. The primary concerns of farmers considering the switch to conservation tillage are the effects on crop production and profitability. The objectives of this study were to determine crop yields and to compare net income of the conservation tillage treatments with the moldboard plow system when applied to sloping and eroded CRP land in sod. Literature Summary Goals of sustainable agriculture include reduced soil erosion, maintenance and restoration of crop productivity, reduced pollution of ground and surface water, and farm profitability. A major means of accomplishing these goals is the widespread adoption of conservation tillage, in which significant levels of crop residue remain on the soil surface to reduce soil erosion. Complementary to the erosion control goals of sustainable agriculture are the conservation compliance provisions of the Illinois T by 2000 program, the U.S. Food Security Act of 1985, and the 1990 Farm bill. These federal and state acts require conservation measures be used on land classified as highly erodible. A major conservation measure to be used to meet compliance is conservation tillage. New computer programs compare alternative farming methods on the basis of costs of machinery, herbicides, fertilizers, and other crop inputs that aid in the farm sector's decision making. One Illinois computer program was designed to assist in selecting a low cost set of machinery for a farm. It schedules the desired field operations and calculates all machinery related costs. Computer programs and economic budgeting worksheets provide efficient methods for determining profitability of different tillage systems. Study Description This tillage project was initiated in 1989 at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Research Center in southern Illinois. The effects of no‐till (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP) tillage systems on a Grantsburg silt loam soil were studied. The tillage treatments were replicated eight times on 30 by 40 ft plots. For the project, corn and soybean were grown on a six‐year rotation. Prior to the establishment of the experiment, the area had been a tall fescue hayland, similar to CRP land, for more than 10 yr. The experimental design allowed for randomization of tillage treatment (NT, CP, and MP) both by row (block) and by column (replication) to control random variability in both directions. This paper summarizes crop yield and economic data for the three tillage systems with actual inputs used on the plots. The objectives of this study were to measure the crop yield, estimate machinery‐related costs, and compare the returns of W, CP, and NT systems applied to CRP, sod on sloping and eroded soils. Applied Questions Do conservation tillage systems maintain crop yield over time as well as moldboard plow system on sloping and eroding soils? Yes. The grain yield × year, crop and treatment are provided in Table . In 1989, corn grain yield for NT was significantly lower than for either MP or CP. Corn yield with CP was also significantly lower than with MP. The initial yield advantage for the MP system the first year did not occur the last 5 yr. The NT system crop yield improved relative to the MP system each year and NT had the highest crop yield the fourth, fifth, and sixth years with the differences statistically significant in the last two crop years. Are conservation tillage systems as profitable over time on sloping and eroding soils as the moldboard plow system? Yes! This six‐year corn‐soybean rotation tillage project at Dixon Springs examined the economics of three tillage systems as if applied to a 1000 acre farm in southern Illinois. Limiting the tillage operations of CP and MP treatments to spring increased machinery and labor costs because of the time constraints. In this study (Table ), NT had the highest net returns and lowest labor requirements, while MP had the highest machinery and labor requirements. Equipment capital requirements were about 50% less for NT than for CP and MP systems. The higher NT herbicide rates were offset by reductions in machinery and labor costs. Over the 6 yr, NT had $4O/acre per yr higher net income than MP and $32/acre per yr higher net income than CP. CP net income was $8/acre per yr higher (simple average without time valuation adjustment) than MP as a result of lower machinery costs. A farmer may revert to performing the primary tillage operations in the fall with CP and MP systems to lower machinery costs; however, this would increase soil erosion above tolerable soil loss limits due to greater exposure of soil to rainfall and wind. Recommendation The NT system provides the farmer with the highest net income over time while reducing soil loss from erosion to below future soil loss standards. Crop yields by treatment per acre per year. Year Crop Treatment Yield, bu/acre 1989 Corn NT 134a 1989 Corn CP 148b 1989 Corn MP 167c 1990 soybean NT 39a 1990 soybean CP 43a 1990 soybean MP 44a 1991 Corn NT 98a 1991 Corn CP 91a 1991 Corn MP 97a 1992 soybean NT 61a 1992 soybean CP 51a 1992 soybean MP 59a 1993 Corn NT 176a 1993 Corn CP 172ab 1993 Corn MP 164b</j

A field trial has been carried out in order to study the use of Earthworm Manure (EWM) and NPK fertilizer to improve the quality of Acid Sulphate Soil (ASS) as a sweet corn (Zea mays L) cultivation land in North Sumatra. The experiment was a Factorial Randomized Block Design. Factors studied were Earthworm Manure (EWM) and NPK fertilizer. The EWM treatment was arranged in 4 doses consisting of: Control (0 kg EWM / plot), 0.4 kg EWM / plot; 0.8 kg EWM / plot; and 1.2 kg EWM/plot. NPK treatment was given in 4 doses consisting of: control (0 kg NPK / plot); 5 g NPK / plot; 10 g NPK / plot; and 15 g NPK / plot. The treatment of EWM material was applied by mixing EWM with topsoil of ASS at a depth of about 5 cm evenly in each trial plot when it was 1 week before sweet corn plant was planted. While NPK fertilizer treatment was given between the rows of plants when the plants are 2 weeks old. Each treatment was given in each trial plot with a size of 100 cm x 100 cm and was repeated 3 times. The plant spacing was set at 60 cm x 70 cm, the distance between replications was 50 cm, and the distance between treatment plots was 30 cm. Variables observed include some soil properties, growth and crop yields. Soil properties were measured consisting of: pH (H₂O), total N (Kjeldahl), P (Bray II), Exchangeable-K (K-ex) (NH₄OAc pH 7.0). Growth and yield of plants were also determined including: plant height, stem diameter, and crop yield. The results obtained showed that the application of EWM could improve the quality of ASS properties shown by the increase in the total N content, available P, exchangeable-K, and ASS pH and plant growth based on stem diameter growth. NPK application increases total N content, available P, and K-ex, but does not increase growth in height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and crop yields. Application of EWM increases pH, whereas NPK has no effect on ASS pH. The effects of EWM and NPK interact positively on total N content where the application of EWM increases the effect of NPK on total N content; the effect of EWM was better in improving the chemical properties (N, P, K, and pH) of ASS and plant stem diameter growth compared with NPK application. EWM can be used to improve the quality of chemical properties (N, P, K, and pH) and partially or completely substitute NPK sweet corn plants in ASS so as to save on the use of NPK fertilizer. Therefore, EWM has the potential as an alternative agrobiotechnology product that has the opportunity to be used to overcome the problem of ASS as agricultural land.

Although the movement of liming materials under no-tillage (NT) systems can intensify stratification of soil chemical properties and be deleterious to soybean growth, little is known regarding the soil acidity indicators used to predict lime requirement (LR) in Brazilian soils under NT. Thus, we hypothesize that the recommendation criteria used for predicting LR in soils under NT must be different from those adopted in soils under conventional tillage (CT), and the reference values for such liming indicators may vary according to the phase following the adoption of the NT system. The study aimed to obtain soil acidity indicators for soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merill) in tropical acid soils under no-tillage (NT) systems and their respective critical levels according to the phase of NT. Sites under NT were commercial soybean crop areas located in the Cerrado region, Brazil. Systems analyzed were NTI (NT management from 0 to 5 years&amp;mdash;initial phase), and NTTC (NT management from 5 to 20 years&amp;mdash;transition-consolidation phase). Soil samples were collected at the 0-5, 0-10, and 0-20 cm layers, and analyzed for chemical characteristics. Relationships between crop yield response of soybean to lime application and various soil acidity-related characteristics led to establishing soil acidiy indicators for liming in tropical acid soils under no tillage. Critical levels were approximately similar in both phases of NT for exchangeable Ca and Mg, and potential acidity, but varied greatly depending on the soil layer and phase of NT management for soil pHCaCl2, CECpH7.0, and base saturation. In general, for both phases of NT, the critical levels of soil acidity indicators were lowest for the 0-20 cm layer, moderate for the 0-10 cm layer, and highest for the 0-5 cm layer. Lime applied with incorporation in the NTTC phase kept the soil with chemical attributes more favorable for plant growth than when surface liming was employed in the NTI phase, which was verified by the soybean yield response. Our results indicate the differences on the soil acidity indexes between the top and bottom depths that would not have been realized in a soil sampling for conventional tillage. Hence, recommendation criteria for lime application considering distinct soil depths and NT systems will be helpful when making lime decisions. Further research should focus on the development of reliable methods for predicting LR according to the NT phase and consequently maximize soybean production under NT systems in Brazil.

No-tillage and rye cover crop systems improve soil water retention by increasing soil organic carbon in Andosols under humid subtropical climate

Transition to no‐till (NT) and organic (ORG) farming systems may enhance sustainability. Our objectives were to compare transitional crop productivity and soil nutrient status among diversified NT and ORG cropping systems in Montana. Three NT systems were designed as 4‐yr rotations, including a pulse (lentil [Lens culinaris Medik.] or pea [Pisum sativum L.]), an oilseed (canola [Brassica napus L.] or sunflower [Helianthus annuus L.]) and two cereal crops (corn [Zea mays L.], proso millet [Panicum miliaceum L.], or wheat [Triticum aestivum L.]). No‐till continuous wheat was also included. The ORG system included a green manure (pea), wheat, lentil, and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and received no inputs. Winter wheat in the ORG system yielded equal or greater than in the NT systems, and had superior grain quality, even though 117 kg N ha−1 was applied to the NT winter wheat. After 4 yr, soil nitrate‐N and Olsen‐P were 41 and 14% lower in the ORG system, whereas potentially mineralizable N was 23% higher in the ORG system. After 4 yr, total economic net returns were equal between NT and ORG systems on a per‐ha basis. Studying simultaneous transition to diversified NT and ORG cropping systems was instructive for increased sustainability.

Tillage has been used as a major weed management tool for several decades in conventional agricultural systems; however, it has also presented problems, such as degradation of soil health and high production costs. Therefore, a trend towards the adoption of no-till (NT) systems has emerged over recent decades. With the adoption of NT systems has come the elimination of a key component (tillage) of weed management strategies, resulting in a shift in weed dynamics across agricultural systems. Weed management is a challenging component of a successful NT system wherein the use of herbicides have become the most prevalent control method. This over-reliance on chemicals is not a sustainable long-term strategy as it imposes a high selection pressure on weeds, drives the problematic evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds, pollutes the environment, and causes health hazards. The use of biotechnology to develop herbicide-tolerant crops, such as those tolerant to glyphosate, has undoubtedly revolutionized the adoption of NT systems. However, many issues concerning human health and the development of weeds resistant to herbicides are arising as a result of the use of these crops. A recent ban on the use of glyphosate in a few countries may lead to further restrictions on the use of herbicide-tolerant crops, potentially resulting in a reverse in course from NT production systems to more conventional tillage systems. Therefore, the task of evaluating alternative weed management strategies with respect to NT systems presents challenges. Techniques designed to reduce competitiveness in weeds or enhance competitiveness in crop plants while reducing dependency on herbicides, such as modifying row spacing and orientation, adjusting planting density and sowing time, and use of competitive cultivars, mulching and cover cropping have been developed by agricultural scientists. Modified or strategic tillage and crop diversification are other potential strategies which can be used for weed management in NT systems. Potential non-conventional weed management strategies such as harvest weed seed control, allelopathy and precision weed management using remote sensing and robotics require further evaluation for their feasibility, efficiency and viability in these systems. This chapter highlights possible combinations of non-chemical, non-conventional and chemical weed management tools that can be used in an integrated weed management approach, presenting the potential for a favorable shift in the crop-weed balance in NT systems.

Tillage has both positive and negative effects on pest management in agriculture, depending on the pest being managed. This chapter discusses the pros and cons of no-till (NT) systems in regard to pest pressure. The success and environmental sustainability of pest management in NT systems depends on the agricultural methods that are used in tandem with the cessation of tillage. Insecticides are often used in NT systems, meaning that pesticide runoff from fields and damage to nontarget insect species remain as much, if not more, concerning in NT agriculture versus conventional tillage (CT) systems. Crop rotation, use of pest-resistant crop varieties, manipulation of planting and harvest dates, retention of crop residues, and intercropping are alternative practices that are fully integrative with NT systems. These practices, when paired with NT agriculture, can promote soil microbiota that improve plant defenses, encourage colonization of beneficial predators and parasitoids, and reduce pest abundances and the need for insecticide treatments in NT fields.

A no‐till (NT) production system has potential to reduce soil erosion, fossil fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions compared with a conventional till (CT) system. Nitrogen fertilization (four to six N rates) and tillage system (CT and NT) effects on irrigated, continuous corn (Zea mays L.) yields were evaluated for 5 yr on a clay loam soil to determine the viability of the NT system and N needs for optimum yield. Corn in both NT and CT systems responded similarly to available N supply. Grain yields were significantly increased by N fertilization in both tillage systems, with a 16% higher average maximum yield in the CT than in the NT system. Grain yields were near maximum with an available N (soil + fertilizer N) level of 276 and 268 kg N ha−1 in the CT and NT systems, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency (NFUE) averaged 43% over N rates and years for both systems. Total N required to produce 1 Mg of grain at maximum yield averaged 19 and 20 kg N Mg−1 grain for the CT and NT systems, respectively. Corn residue increased with increasing N rate with no difference in residue production between tillage systems. The lower grain yield with NT probably resulted from the slow early spring development and delayed tasseling compared with the CT system as a result of cooler spring soil temperatures in the NT system. No‐till, irrigated, continuous corn production has potential for replacing CT systems in the central Great Plains area, but with reduced yield potential. Current N fertilizer recommendations for CT corn based on yield goal may need to be modified for NT to account for the lower yield potential and slightly higher N requirement.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed at identifying the proper developmental stage for the cutting of cover crops with high nutrients content in the shoots of plants to be used as green manure on crop rotation in the no-tillage (NT) system. Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan, Mucuna aterrima, and Sorghum bicolor were collected at five different vegetative stages for assessing of fresh weight yield (DWY) and dry weight yield (DWY), as well as determining the carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) ratio and the contents of nutrients in the shoots of plants. The experiment was performed on a completely randomized design, with five replicates. Except for the nutrients contents in S. bicolor, for the assessed legumes the DWY, FWY, C/N ratio, nutrient concentration and nutrient accumulation in the shoots have increased with the development of plants. Therefore, it can be inferred that grasses studied will provide greater soil cover, while the legumes will provide a greater nutrient cycling.

The study aims to assess seed yield of yellow lupine, seed chemical composition, weed infestation of lupine crop, and contents of organic C and total N in the soil cultivated in the conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-till (NT) systems. The experiment was established on sandy-clay soil classified as Rendzic Phaeozem. It was set up in a randomized blocks design in 3 replicates having size of 75 m × 6 m. The lupine seed yield was higher in the CT system than in the RT and NT systems, due to a higher plant number m−2, pod number m−2, and seed number m−2. The tillage systems had little effect on the contents of protein, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the seeds; however, ash content of the seeds increased and that of potassium decreased in the NT system compared to the CT and RT systems. The tillage systems also affected lupine infestation by weeds. A higher weed number m−2 and their air-dry weight were determined in the RT system compared to the CT and NT systems. The NT and RT systems system increased contents of organic C and total N in the soil compared to the CT system.

Abstract. No-till (NT) cropping systems have been proposed as a strategy to combat soil degradation by storing soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN). We quantified the impacts of NT cropping systems on the changes in SOC and TN stocks and in particulate and mineral-associated organic matter fractions (POM and MAOM), to 100 cm depth, from three 13-year-old experiments in a tropical red Oxisol in Cambodia using diachronic and equivalent soil mass approaches. Established in 2009 and arranged in a randomized complete-block design with triplicates, the experiments included maize (MaiEx)-, soybean (SoyEx)-, and cassava (CasEx)-based cropping systems. Each experiment comprised three treatments: (1) mono-cropping of main crops (maize, soybean, and cassava) under conventional tillage (CTM); (2) mono-cropping of main crops under NT systems with the use of cover crops (NTM); and (3) bi-annual rotation of main crops under NT systems with the use of cover crops (NTR), with both crops being presented every year and represented by NTR1 and NTR2. Soil samples were collected in 2021, 10 years after the last sampling. All the NT systems significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased SOC stock in the topsoil in SoyEx and MaiEx and down to 40 cm in CasEx. Considering the whole profile (0–100 cm), the SOC accumulation rates ranged from 0.86 to 1.47 and from 0.70 to 1.07 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in MaiEx and CasEx, respectively. Although SOC stock significantly increased in CTM at 0–20 cm in MaiEx and CasEx, it remained stable at 0–100 cm in all the experiments. At 0–5 cm, NTR systems significantly increased TN stock in all the experiments, while, in NTM systems, it was only significant in MaiEx and SoyEx. At 0–100 cm, TN stock in all the experiments remained stable under NTR systems, whereas a significant decrease was observed under NTM systems in SoyEx and CasEx. Although C-POM stock significantly increased under all NT systems limited to 0–10 cm in MaiEx and SoyEx, all the NT systems significantly increased C-MAOM stock in the 0–10 cm layer in MaiEx and SoyEx and down to 40 cm in CasEx. All the NT systems significantly increased N-POM stock at 0–10 cm in MaiEx and SoyEx, while a significant decreased in N-MAOM stock was observed below 5 cm in CasEx and below 40 cm in MaiEx and SoyEx. Our findings showed that long-term NT systems with crop species diversification accumulated SOC not only on the surface but also in the whole profile by increasing SOC in both the POM and MAOM, even in the cassava-based system. This study highlights the potential of NT systems for storing SOC over time but raises questions about soil N dynamics.