Effects of conventional and No-till corn grown in rotation on three soils in Eastern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Conventional tillage and no-till were compared on 3 soil types (gently to moderately sloping, well drained fine sandy loam; level to very gently sloping, imperfectly drained very fine sandy (v.f.s.) loam; and level, poorly drained loam) for corn ( Zea mays L.) grown in rotation with cereal grains and hay in eastern Ontario. Averaged over 3 years, there were no significant differences in yields between treatments. Soil temperatures at 0.10-m depth were 0–3°C lower in the no-till throughout the growing season. There were no significant differences in soil water content. Saturated porosity and drainable porosity were reduced in the first year of no-till ( P<0.01). Saturated hydraulic conductivity was greater ( P<0.025) under no-till in the 0–0.30-m depths of the loam and v.f.s. loam sites in the first year of the study. Cone penetrometer resistance was greater in the upper 0.20 m of the no-till plots at the two sandy loam sites, but interactions with depth ( P<0.01) resulted in greater penetrometer resistance in the conventional-till than in the no-till sites below 0.25-m depth. At the loam and v.f.s. loam sites, wheel pressure during planting resulted in a greater increase in penetrometer resistance in the tilled plots than in the no-till ( P<0.01). Bulk density data suggested the formation of a tillage pan below the plowed layer under conventional till at the v.f.s. loam site. Erosion measurements at a sloping site showed that soil loss on the spring-plowed tilled plots average 2.6 times greater than on the no-till.