The Effectiveness of No­Till Sowing and Minimal Tillage in the Cultivation of Corn for Grain

Abstract

It was noted that technologies of direct sowing No-till and sowing with minimal soil tillage Mini-till play an increasing role in transferring crop production to a new technological level. The comparison of the efficiency of cultivating corn for grain when using different tillage and sowing technologies revealed the inconsistency of the scientific research results.Research purpose To compare the cost-effectiveness of two technologies for cultivating corn for grain: Mini-till and the traditional one. (Materials and methods) The advantages and disadvantages of the traditional cultivation of corn for grain were considered in comparison with No-till and Mini-till sowing.Results and discussion The authors carried out field studies of the technology based on minimal tillage and minimum organic fertilizers and used for seven years in Derevyanko V.I. peasant farm (Krasnodar Krai). As a result, the operational and technological performance indicators were determined for Optima TFmaxi direct seeder aggregated with John Deere 8310RT tractor and other machines used for the main technological operations. The volumes of technological materials used were determined. A systematic analysis of the economic efficiency sources was carried out at two levels: machine and tractor fleet, technology in general.Conclusions It was determined that compared to the traditional technology, Mini-till ensures a 49-percent decrease in the labor intensity of mechanized operations, though results in a 1-percent increase in fuel consumption and a 69-percent rise in unit operating costs, which is, though, offset by a 3-ton-per-hectare, or a 43-percent, increase in the productivity of corn for grain.