Evaluation of Tillage Systems for Grain Sorghum and Wheat Yields and Total Nitrogen Uptake in the Texas Blackland Prairie

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increased interest in cropping systems such as conservation-tillage; however, determining the best alternative between cropping system options is often complicated by disparities in research results due to seasonal variability. The economic cost of the systems further complicates the determination of the best alternative for sustainable crop production. To evaluate tillage systems using experimental data, a computer simulation approach called fuzzy multi-attributive decision-making (MAMD) can be applied. In this study, MAMD was applied to research the impact of conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems with and without raised wide beds on yield and nitrogen (N) uptake in grain sorghum and wheat for soils of the Texas Blackland Prairie. Results of yield and N uptake data for 4 years (1994–1997) indicated that the various tillage systems had merits and demerits across the different years of study. The economic conditions of the cropping systems were also utilized in the evaluation. Utilization of this technique indicated that the no-tillage cropping system with wide beds was the best tillage system of the ones evaluated.