Evaluation of strip-tillage and fertilizer placement in Southern Idaho corn production

Tarkalson, D.D. and Bjorneberg, D.L. (2008) Evaluation of strip-tillage and fertilizer placement in Southern Idaho corn production. pp. 36-41. In: Idaho Nutrient Management Conference. USA-ID-Jerome, 2008/03/04. Proceedings of the Idaho Nutrient Management Conference.

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Abstract

Strip tillage (ST) and associated nutrient placement can potentially help producers reduce fuel
and machinery costs, increase yield, and reduce soil erosion compared to chisel tillage (CT).
This study was initiated to evaluate corn production (Zea mays L.) under ST and CT, and various
nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer placements. The effects of tillage practice and N and
P placement on grain and biomass yield of field corn was assessed on two sites at the USDA ARS
Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Laboratory at Kimberly, ID with different levels of
soil fertility and productivity. Two sites were selected in a furrow irrigated field that had been
previously cropped to alfalfa. Site A was located in the top half of the field and Site B was
located in the bottom half of the field. Site A had lower levels of soil organic C (OC) and soil
test P and K compared to Site B. The treatments were 1) ST with deep placement of N and
broadcast P; 2) ST with 2 by 2 placement of N and broadcast P; 3) ST with deep placement of N
and P; 4) CT with 2 by 2 placement of N and broadcast P; and 5) CT with broadcast N and P.
The grain yields at Site A were greater for ST compared to CT. The deep band placement of N
and P with ST had a yield (175 bu acre-1) advantage of 23 and 16 bu acre-1 over both CT
treatments, respectively and increased yields to levels similar to the average of Site B (178 bu
acre-1). No differences in grain yield occurred at Site B for all treatments. There were no
differences in biomass yield of corn at the VT (tassel) growth stage and grain harvest time at
both sites. The average total dry matter biomass at grain harvest time was 9.1 and 10.4 tons acre-1
averaged over all treatments, respectively. Data from year one of this study indicates that ST and
deep band placement of N and P increased corn grain yield over CT and conventional fertilizer
placement methods in highly eroded low fertile soils. Irrespective of the potential yield increases
there may be an economic advantage associated less fuel due to less tillage passages with ST
compared to CT. Because the data presented in this paper is from one year, caution should be
exercised in extrapolating these results from year to year due to the variability in crop production
associated with time-specific factors. This study will be carried out over a least one to two more
years before final conclusions and recommendations are issued.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number:	1267
Subjects:	Soil > Tillage
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2008 20:42
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2016 15:49
Item ID:	1290
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1290