Page 14-Corn Talk, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 17,1993 TILLAGE AND CROP ROTATION EFFECTS ON CORN YIELDS Greg Roth A recent study published in the Journal of Production Agri culture by M. G. Lund, P. R. Carter, and E. S. Oplinger eva luated the effects of two tillage systems no-till and mold board plowing and crop rotations (continuous cropping, com/soybean, wheat/soybean/ com, and soybean/wheat/com) on the growth and yield of com wheat and soybeans. The study showed that conti nuous cropping reduced yields of com by 10 percent and soy bean by 15 percent compared to when die crops were in rotation. Generally, yield, reductions because of continuous cropping were greatest under no-till. The effects of rotation and tillage were less consistent on wheat as the effect varied from none in one year to a 36 percent reduction in another. With wheat, the tillage influence on MILK q —: 0 g ; M&R GRAINS, INC. 4* * ■ #• g ROASTED SOYBEANS o DEALERS IN BARLEY, CORN & SOYBEANS FITNESS YOU CAN DRINK Not Just Your Ordinary Top Loader! (519) 856-4927 the rotation effect was less con sistent in some years the tilled plots were most affected and in another year when Sep toria and leaf rust diseases were severe, no-till treatments were more affected by continuous cropping. Com yields were similar in each of the three rotation sequ ences except for no-till com after wheat, where yields were reduced by 6 percent. The authors suggest that the same allelopathic factors that reduce yields of com following rye may cause the yield reductions following wheat, since the early season com was about 8 inches shorter than the no-till com fol lowing soybeans. In this study, the straw from the wheat was not baled or removed and this may have increased the poten tial for allelopathic effects. This study did not show any difference in soybean yields for a one- or two-year rotation. Some previous research has shown a benefit from increas ing the time between soybeans Unload vonr silo without t/ A Blower V Any Gearboxes f/ An Electric Ring Get Greater Volume Of Output Yes, We Can Install In Fall Or Partially Full Silos. Never climb your silo to change doors. in the rotation to more than just one year, but the authors sug gest it may need to be more than two years as they had in this study to be significant. In summary, the study did not show any consistent improvement in com and soy bean yields by going to a three year rotation, including wheat. In Pennsylvania, the advan tages of wheat in a rotation may be greater than in this study for several reasons: • In southeast Pennsylvania, wheat yields are not reduced by late planting following com and soybeans as much as they are in Wisconsin. • In some areas, soybeans can be double cropped with the wheat, adding to the profitabili ty of the wheat. • Control of perennial weeds in no-till programs can be suc cessful following wheat harvest. A common problem with surface applications of urea containing fertilizers such as urea and UAN solution is the potential for a significant loss of N from the fertilizer by volatilization. The results of a three-year study designed to evaluate the effect of application timing and method of liquid nitrogen (UAN) to com was recently published in the Journal of Pro duction Agriculture. The study In grain bodies, aluminum makes Sense. CHECK OUT THESE FEATURES/BENEFITS • Up to 40% lighter than steel, for greater payload • Designed for long life • Resale value • Corrosion resistant, never needs painting • Appearance to complement any truck • Complete list of popular options, including * tailgates, tarps and sides. Committed to the Agri Transportation Business NITROGEN MANAGEMENT OF UREA-AMMONIUM NITRATE SOLUTION (UAN) IN NO-TILL CORN Greg Roth Doug Beegle / / / <Mor mm TPMJK MIWS was performed by Richard Fox and William Piekielek, from the Department of Agronomy at Penn State. In this study, UAN applica tions were made either at plant ing or at sidedressing. The at planting treatments were either dribbled or sprayed on. The sidedress applications w«k| dribbled between the rows or injected. All except the injected treat ments were applied with one of three urease inhibitor treat ments none, ammonium thiosulfate, or an experimental compound called NBPT. Urease inhibitors, if effective, should inhibit ammonia volatil ization losses from surface applied urea fertilizer. The three-year average results showed that injecting UAN at sidedressing produced the most yield (129 bushels/ acre) and spraying UAN at planting the least (114 bushels/ acre). The dribble at planting (121 bushels/acre) and the dribble sidedress yields (124 bushels/acre) were intermediate. The study indicates that to obtain the highest yields, pro ducers should consider apply ing N at sidedressing in either a band or injected application. About one-half of the studies in the literature have shown a response to injecting UAN at sidedressing, while the others have shown no benefit com pared to banding.' GRAIN BODIES STANDARD LENGTHS: 12'; 14‘; 15'; 16'; 17; 18'; 20'; 22'; 24' OVERALL WIDTHS: 96" standard, 102" optional SIDE HEIGHTS: 48" standard, 54", 60" or 72" optional (other heights available on request) M.H. Eby, Inc. 1194 Main Street (Route 23) Blue Ball, PA 17506 (717)354-4971 (800)292-4752 FAX: (717) 355-2114 In this case, assuming S2.SO/bushel corn, the 5-bushel-per-acre advantage with injecting would have been profitable. Of the two inhibitors eva luated. NBPT and ammonium thiosulfate. NBPT was the most consistent at increasing the effi ciency of the fertilizer applica tion. Fbr UAN sprayed on at planting, there was a 7-bushel per-acre advantage to adding NBPT. Unfortunately, NBPT is not yet commercially available. There was no advantage in adding ammonium thiosulfate when spraying UAN. This is consistent with the findings of several other researchers. Neither of the inhibitors showed any advantage when applied in banded applications. The researchers were also able to estimate losses from surface-applied urea applica tions. In the three different years of the study, they esti mated 29, 11, and 27 percent loss from applying these fertil izers to the surface. The losses in the first and third years occurred when there were four days between appli cation and 0.4 inch of rain fell. In the second year, when the loss was smaller, there was only one day until 0.4 inches of rain fell. The researchers recommend that the most efficient ways to apply UAN are to dribble or inject at sidedressing. Eby Aluminum Agri-Dump Bodies pay off in dependable long-term service. Their all-aluminum construction means: • Greater payload efficiency • Maintenance-free service • Substantially higher resale value. Eby's time-tested design is available in lengths to 24’ for grain bodies and 1014 ' for general purpose dump bodies. A long list of standard features such as tarp rail, built-in steps, aerodynamic uprights and Harsh hoist is complement ed by a full range of custom options, including tailgates, Wahpeton tarps and grain chutes. When you select your next grain body or general purpose dump body, consider the value that aluminum offers. It’s a worry-free investment in your future.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers