The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-03-20, Page 3818 - The Farm Edition. Week of March 20. 1985
Clinton farmer uses no till to control declining productiv•
ity
from page 8
get a feel for planting problems, management
or various cover crops and weed control
problems in a no -till situation: Fbllowing
evaluation of 1981 results, 'corrections were
made.
In 1982, Lobb planted 55 acnes oeno-till
corn and two awes of no -till soybeans.
Included were 18 ground cover situations over
which he had 33 mop treatments. The results
after two years of work were very encourag-
ing, says' Lobb, • but not to the point where
caution could be •abandonded:"
The 1982 Huron County Soils and Crop
Improvement Association No -rill Project
added substance to this evaluation. No -till
yields were equal to or greater than conven-
tional 'tillage more often than not in 1982,
however, there was no killing frost until
October 25. A normal September frost could
have changed the results somewhat where
early growth had been slow or, uneven. The
potential for no -till was however well estab-
lished.
In 1983 Jane Sadler -Richards under the
direction of Lir. Terry Daynard gave much of
the no -till work on the Lobb farm a research
perspective - 28 treatments in all, including
crop history, effect on no -till Dorn, cover drop
treatments, no -till vs conventional tiff Corn
and no -till vs conventional till soybeans on
various soil types. -
In addition, Lobb had corn variety trials,
no -till vs convention till, no -till wheat and.
no -till barley on four locations. In contrast to
the very favourable no -till weather in 1982
(dry at planting time followed by good
moisture levels and a long frost free autumn),
1983 was much in reverse and a real learning
experience, says Lobb.
Some observations Lobb has noted (keep in
mind Lobb is not doing research but on farm
evaluation, under his management, for his
use. Observations are his own and data is
based on his own machine harvest results. )
--Where soil drainage or compaction are
problems, alternatives to no -till should be
used. In 1983 Lobb had some bare acres to
prove that.
--Next to drainage, crop sequence may be the
principle limitation factor in tillage system
choices. For example, no -till corn is best
following almost any crop other than corn. In
1982, no -till corn after no -till soybeans
yielded 13 per cent higher than after no -till
corn. In 1983, no -till corn following soys
yielded seven per cent.higher than corn after
corn. These comparisons are on sandy loam,
which is less likely to show rotational benefit
than fine textured soil.
--Starter fertilizer placement and planter
operation may be improved by adding plow.
coulters ahead of fertilizer openers. Lobb's
1982 yields were improved by seven per cent
on sandy loam and 23 per cent on silty clay by.
using these coulters at a depth of 15 - 20
centimetres. This was the same yield increase
registered when they compared the use of
starter fertilizer vs no 'starter fertilizer on an
adjacent site. Lobb believes it is important, at
least in the beginning with no -till, to apply all
of their P plus some N and K with the planter, ,
at least to soil test recommended level. 1983
soil testing along a no -till vs conventional till
junction on one site (sandy loam -clay loam)
indicates under his fertility Agram, there
has been no relative change in fertility or pH
will drop to uninanageable levels and no -till
fertility will be concentrated at the surface -
unlike conventional till.
--A series of nitrogen fertilizer trials in 1982,
which included both NH3 and 28 per cent
indicated likely losses of N when 28 per cent
was broadcast sprayed over Corn stalk
residue. Lobb found an eighteen yield
reduction • on one site decked. In 1983
because soil conditions were very dry in late
June, he chose to side dress shallow with 28
per cent to meet this year's requirements .
One way or another N should be applied to
make adequate soil Contact.
--Cover crops have been a problem where kill
is too late. In 1982, , Lobb had yield
depressions of 13 - 17 per cent and moisture
increases of .9 - 3..5 per cent when planted in
grass legume hay and rye when growth was
too advanced vs no -till on relatives bare
ground. Shading and or allelopathic effects of
decaying vegetation are likely causes. A 10
day before planting kill of rye in 1982 produc-
ed a dramatic improvement in crop perform-
ance
erformance - particularly on low organic.soil. Fall or
early spring kill of grass and legumes seems
most effective and less expensive. •
--Herbicide application with 28 per. cent N as,
a carrier, has been unreliable for Lobb. Of the
variety of procedures which he has tried, the
post -emerge type is most effective and when
used withprecision and care, has not
increased his weed control costs. Perennials
are often cited as a no -till problem. Lobb has
turn to page 20
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