PART I: History, Principles and Economics of Crop Production With Reduced Tillage Systems History of Reduced Tillage Systems

Abstract

This paper will deal with the evolution of tillage practices during the last 4 to 5 decades. A corn grower in the midwest during the 1920's or 1930's might plow the soil, till with a disk 3 or 4 times to break clods, then drag or harrow to smooth the surface and complete preparation of a fine, firm seedbed. He would then plant and might rotary hoe or till lightly again just before or at the time of crop emergence. Much of the corn was planted in hills arranged in check rows so that the field could be cultivated in both directions. After emergence, the crop was cultivated from 2 to 4 times, once each way per cultivation, before stalks grew so high that they would be broken by equipment going through the field. If the field was particularly weedy, it might be cultivated again with a mule and a Georgia Stock, even after the corn was as much as shoulder high. Hand labor was used to hoe or pull weeds missed by the cultivator.