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Ten–Year Assessment Encourages No–Till for Corn Grain and Stover Harvest

Journal Article · · Agricultural & Environmental Letters
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. USDA-ARS, Ames, IA (United States); Anatres group inc.
  2. USDA-ARS, Ames, IA (United States)
  3. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Developing a bio-economy by harvesting crop residues from highly productive corn (Zea mays L.) cropping systems requires science-based management decisions to maintain or enhance grain yield and soil, water, and air resources. Which tillage and stover harvest practices are best for accomplishing these goals? Continuous corn grain yield response to either no-till or chisel plowing with two stover harvest rates (3.4 or 5.1 Mg ha-1 yr-1) was evaluated for 10 yr in central Iowa. Each tillage and stover removal combination was replicated four times. Year-to-year variation affected grain yield more than tillage practice (0.2 Mg ha-1) or stover removal (0.1 Mg ha-1). Grain yields were not statistically different (p = 0.33) between tillage systems. Including machinery costs made return on investment for chisel plow and no-till equivalent even though no-till yields were numerically lower. Net stover income per megagram was US $$\$$2$$ to $$\$$4$$ greater at the 3.4 versus 5.1 Mg ha-1 harvest rate because of more efficient harvesting. Among the four practices, no-till with 3.4 Mg ha-1 stover harvest met multiple goals, including providing acceptable corn grain yields, positive net income per megagram stover, and sufficient residues to protect the soil.
Research Organization:
USDA-ARS, Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0007088; SC0014664
OSTI ID:
1836091
Report Number(s):
DOE-ANTARES--07088-20
Journal Information:
Agricultural & Environmental Letters, Journal Name: Agricultural & Environmental Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 3; ISSN 2471-9625
Publisher:
Wiley - American Society of Agronomy - Crop Science Society of America - Soil Science Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (11)

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Multilocation Corn Stover Harvest Effects on Crop Yields and Nutrient Removal journal February 2014
Crop Residue Harvest Economics: An Iowa and North Dakota Case Study journal February 2014
When does no-till yield more? A global meta-analysis journal November 2015
Influence of Tillage on Corn and Soybean Yield in the United States and Canada journal January 2006
Tillage and Crop Rotation Effects on Corn Agronomic Response and Economic Return at Seven Iowa Locations journal July 2015
Crop and Soil Productivity Response to Corn Residue Removal journal January 2004
Continuous Corn Response to Residue Management and Nitrogen Fertilization journal November 2008
Effects of No‐Till on Yields as Influenced by Crop and Environmental Factors journal March 2012
Corn Stover Nutrient Removal Estimates for Central Iowa, USA journal July 2015

Cited By (1)

Satellites reveal a small positive yield effect from conservation tillage across the US Corn Belt journal December 2019

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