Effect of Strip-Till Timing, Fertilizer Placement, and Row Spacing on Soybean Seed Yield

Abstract

Core Ideas A reduction in penetration resistance was observed in the rooting zone of fall and spring strip‐till rows compared with no‐till rows. Spring strip‐till reduced penetration resistance at more depths than fall strip‐till. There was no yield response of strip‐till compared with no‐till in the small‐plot study. There was no difference in plant population or yield between strip‐till or no‐till in the on‐farm study. The perceived yield deficit normally associated with 30‐in row spacing was reduced with the use of strip‐till. Alleviation of cold, wet, compacted soil is a major concern for Wisconsin soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growers because of the narrow harvest and planting windows in spring and fall. Strip‐till, which combines benefits of intensive tillage in crop rows and no‐till between crop rows, has emerged as a viable conservation tillage option to alleviate these issues while maintaining soil structure and health. Though strip‐till's yield response in corn (Zea mays L.) is well documented, soybean's yield response has been studied less. This study aims to: (i) quantify the effect of no‐till and strip‐till timing, crop row spacing, and fertilizer placement on soybean plant population, canopy coverage, and seed yield; (ii) evaluate no‐till and strip‐till timing and/or crop row spacing on soil temperature and penetration resistance; and (iii) determine the best management recommendations for strip‐till use in Wisconsin soybean production systems. A small‐plot experiment was conducted in Arlington, WI, during the 2016, 2017, and 2018 growing seasons and an on‐farm experiment was conducted in Sharon, WI, during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. In the small‐plot trial, 15‐inch spring strip‐till (66.5 bu acre‐1) yielded 6.7% more than 15‐inch fall strip‐till (62.0 bu acre‐1). There was no difference in yield between the 15‐inch and 30‐inch row spacings across all tillage treatments. Plant population in the small‐plot trial was 17,000 plants acre‐1 (15.5%) greater at the 30‐inch row spacing than at the 15‐inch row spacing. In the on‐farm trial, no differences were observed among treatment combinations. Overall, results suggested that there were no differences in yield when comparing strip‐till and no‐till for soybean production.

Strip-Till One-Pass Technology in Central and Eastern Europe: A MZURI Pro-Til Hybrid Machine Case Study

“…Such effect on soil allows for referring to the ST as conservation tillage [59]. In the countries where reduced tillage is common, ST is compared to NT [60]. In Poland and in other countries with a relatively low amount of precipitation, the semi-drought periods reoccurring in the recent years, the occurrence of soil erosion, and with a negative soil organic matter balance, the alternative tillage methods and tools to CT system are being searched for.…”