16—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 5, 1963 Zero Tillage For Corn Crop Is Researched “Zero Tillage” may 'become a standard practice of some humid-area corn growers if results of preliminary research are borne out in further stud- ies. The term describes an er perimental system of planting corn on grass or grass-legum es sod, with all usual plowing and cultivating eliminated. The sod, killed with herbicid es prior to corn planting, re- ROHRER’S Can Supply These TOP Recommended Varieties • Cert. “Alfa” Alfalfa • Cert. Pennscott Red Clover • Cert. Cayuga Alfalfa . • Pennsylvania Red • Cert. Buffalo Alfalfa Clover •' Cert. Du Puits • Pennlate Orchard Alfalfa Grass _ ; Saratoga Brome • Cert. Banger Alfalfa Grass • Cert. Vernal Alfalfa • Viking Trefoil • Cert. Narragansett • Climax Timothy Alfalfa 9 Cert. Russel Oats Dekalb Corn - - - - SUDAX * Alfalfa & Red Clover available Pre-inoculated mmmmm SMOKETOWN Phone Lane. 397-3539 PIONEER VIG-RCALF Milk Replacer ''Don't overlook the growth, health and money-saving benefits offered by VIG-R-CALF as a milk replacer for f your calves. VIG-R-CALF is simple to prepare, easy to feed I and grows calves faster for less. See us today fer complete on the PIONEER VIG-R*CALF Milk Replacer Program, Joseph M. Good & Sons - % ». •*+* mams as a protective mulch through the growing season. Corn production without tillage is under study by ARS soil scientists, in cooperation with the Cornell University and Virginia Agricultural Ex periment Stations, Their re search indicates zero tillage has important soil conserva tion advantages. And corn, yields (up to 140 bushels per acre in Virginia and 128 bushes m New York) on no tillage plots were not signifi canty different from yields on conventionally prepared soil. The scientists are not yet ready to recommend zero ♦«' <# * A C« sti cto fee ®.,,i SAVES MILK...SO lb. size saves 4 cans milk in 4 weeks. EASY TO FEED ... Just mix with warm water... STAYS MIXED! INCREASES GROWTH . . . Calves average up to 2 lbs. per day gain in growth! CONTROLS SCOURS ... Scientific blending of quality ingredients and antibiotics helps you control scours! SAVES MONEY... Costs 40-60% less te feed than milki tillage. Although early stud ies indicate several advantag es, there are problems not yet fully resolved. ADVANTAGES 1. Only two farming opera tions are required applica tion of early-season herbicide spray and planting. 2. Killed sod acts as a mul ch during the growing season, restricting runoff and evapor ation. In the Virginia experi ments, available soil moisture to an 18-inch depth was greater with no tillage than with conventional tillage. - 3. The mulch from the pre ceding grass crop reduces soil erosion., PROBLEMS 1. No completely satisfact ory equipment is available for planting corn in sod. 2. Herbicides used for kill ing the sod may interfere with the establishment of oats or other crops following corn. In limited tests in Virginia, how ever, scientists were able to establish small giains, orch ardgrass, and alfalfa after corn had been, produced in sod killed by herbicides. Weeds that are resistant to the herbicide may also pre sent special problems. 3. Plow-down applications of fertilizer are impossible with zero tillage. Fertilizer must be spread before corn is planted or added in the row at planting time. 4. Soil type and manage ment of the preceding sod crop may limit the use of zerg tillage. Soil compaction by grazing animals, for example,. Meet your SEED MAIL^ may be a problem. The prac tice has not been tested in ex tensive field trials. In the Virginia experiments, tillage operations were, com pletely eliminated. The corn was hand-planted, in orchard-, grass sod, in holes made with a; small ;sqil sampling - tube.- The sod had been killed 5 weeks earlier , by spraying w.ifh 4, pounds' (activeAngred -ient) .of ;atrazme.,per acre.- The plots Were fertilized with 1,000 pounds of 10-10-10 per acre, broadcast after planting. In the New York experi ments, the corn was planted in narrow strips cut in the sod by a conventional corn planter, following a good al falfa-grass crop. The scient- 1963 gaBMl right with SH & N LEGHORNS Day Old Pullet Chicks and Started Pullets (10 to 20 weeks) 1963 H & N “Nick Chicks” are improved models of the HL & N “Nick Chicks” which earned an award* for highest income ($3.12 per hen hous ed) *USDA summary report ARS 44-79-2. Order today. Write, or call by telephone - 653-9891. FLORIN FARMS, INC. Mount Joy, Pa. RFD #l, Box L-176 • HE Is your neighbor and friend. • HE is interested in your crop problems. • HE can help you grow better paying crops; • HE knows what seed varieties produce best! in your area. • HE can tell you about alltbe latest and newest seed varieties. • HE will get your seed to you, when you want it • HE is anxious and ready to serve yoff* ists killed tlie sod 1- <to ' 6 weeks before planting the corn by spraying a -mixture of 3 pounds of atrazine-and 2 pounds of aminotrlazole per acre. 'The plots "were fertilized with 1,000 pounds of 10-10- 10 per acre. Eighty "percent [of 'tlie'fertilizer was applied, isjct' topdressirig ' before ’ planting, and 20 percent was applied as a, topdressing before Plant ing, arid '2o' percent Vaa app lied in bands with a tional seeder at planting time. Defective flues and floating systems head the list of causes of home fires. Farm safety specialists suggest you check your home heating plant fre quently and make any needed corrections promptly.
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