F.J. Arriaga1, Randy L. Raper2, Kipling S. Balkcom2, Ted S. Kornecki2, Andrew J. Price2, and Jason S. Bergtold3. (1) USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 411 S. Donahue Drive, Auburn, AL 36832, (2) USDA-ARS, 411 S. Donahue Drive, National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL 36832, (3) Kansas State University, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 304F Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506
This study was initiated in 2004 at the E.V. Smith Agricultural Research Center, near Shorter, in central Alabama. A cotton-corn rotation was established, with both phases of the rotation present each year. Two tillage treatments were studied: 1) bent-leg strip-till with the shanks remaining on the same position every year, and 2) bent-leg strip-till with the shanks alternating locations every other year. Spacing between shanks was 36”, same as the row spacing. Alternating the location of the shank consisted in inverting the direction the bent-legs faced from one year to the next. The objective was to determine if by inverting the shank orientation a larger volume of soil was loosened, thus improving yields. The alternating shank location produced greater cotton yield both years. Seedcotton yields for the alternating shank location treatment were 203 lb/ac greater (3,012 vs. 2,809 lb/ac) in 2005, and 475 lb/ac greater (1,978 vs. 1,503 lb/ac) in 2006. Corn yields showed no difference between tillage treatments. Differences in soil moisture measured during both growing seasons were small. Soil penetration resistance data collected at the end of both seasons suggest that the alternating shank location treatment loosens a greater volume of soil. These data might suggest that cotton benefits most from this non-inversion tillage operation.
Audio File