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Uncovering the Facts and Fiction about Conservation Tillage Systems

Uncovering the Facts and Fiction about Conservation Tillage Systems Wilson Faircloth and Diane Rowland USDA-ARS, National Peanut Research Laboratory, Dawson, GA. N. P. R. N. P. R. ational. eanut. esearch. ational. eanut. esearch. L. L. aboratory. aboratory. NPRL Mythbusters:.

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Uncovering the Facts and Fiction about Conservation Tillage Systems

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  1. Uncovering the Facts and Fiction about Conservation Tillage Systems Wilson Faircloth and Diane Rowland USDA-ARS, National Peanut Research Laboratory, Dawson, GA N P R N P R ational eanut esearch ational eanut esearch L L aboratory aboratory

  2. NPRL Mythbusters: Top 10 Myths About Conservation Tillage -OR- Why aren’t you using conservation tillage in your operation?

  3. MytH #1: You save more water using conventional tillage

  4. Conservation Tillage Absorbs rainfall impact Cooler soil temps Lower evaporative losses Greater soil water infiltration Increases plant available water

  5. 8” soil moisture in three tillage systems Cotton peak flowering and boll fill • Strip till maintains moisture: • Better infiltration -or- • Deeper rooting (no roots at this shallow depth to pull water)

  6. 16” soil moisture in three tillage systems Strip till remains moist

  7. 24” soil moisture in three tillage systems No till roots

  8. Soil Moisture Deficits More irrigation required in Conventional Tillage Irrigation Required 24 Hour Difference in Soil Moisture Conventional Tillage Strip Tillage Excess Moisture

  9. Soil Moisture Profile: Before Irrigation Low Water High Water Conventional till Strip till Conventional till Strip till Soil Depth (cm) 10% 20% 30% 40% = VWC

  10. Daily Water Use Conventional Till Peanut Strip Till 24 Hour Water Flow Conventional Till Cotton Strip Till

  11. Corn Water Use: Low Water ST Sap Flow (g/h) CT Day of Year

  12. Corn Water Use: High Water ST Sap Flow (g/h) CT Day of Year

  13. ST CT ST CT Water Use Strategies • High Water:Strip Tillage • Moisture stratification lessened • Higher water contents at 60 cm depth (high root mass) • Lower root signalling → water use higher or equal toCT • Low Water:Strip Tillage • Greater moisture stratification • Lower water contents at 60 cm depth (high root mass) • Greater root signalling → stomatal closure, lower water use

  14. Corn Yield 2006 Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage Greater water-use efficiency High Water Low Water

  15. Cotton yields2002-2006

  16. Peanut yields2002-2006

  17. Corn yields2003-2006

  18. MytH #2: nutrients are less available to the crop in conservation tillage

  19. Nitrogen & Potassium availability

  20. Calcium availability4” pegging zone

  21. MytH #3: the cover crop interferes with root growth of the crop

  22. Root Dynamics: Rhizotrons

  23. Root Dynamics: Rhizotrons

  24. Root Image Analysis • Root Length • Surface Area • Root Diameter • Volume • Number of Root Tips • Size Classification

  25. Root Length - Peanuts May 11 Conventional Till Strip Till Total Root Length (cm) Cover Crop Rooting Pattern 4 inches 12 inches 20 inches 27 inches 33 inches Soil Depth (cm)

  26. Root Length - Peanuts July 9 Large concentration of roots at 30-55 cm (12-22 in) depths in ST – follows cover crop pattern Conventional Till Strip Till Total Root Length (cm) 4 inches 12 inches 20 inches 27 inches 33 inches Soil Depth (cm)

  27. MytH #4: the cover crop interferes with peanut reproduction

  28. Flowering Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage 2004 Cumulative # Flowers 2005 Date

  29. Peg Formation Efficiency Tagged individual flowers in the field and monitored until development of peg Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage 2004

  30. Pegging Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage 2005 # Pegs per Plant

  31. Pod Number Strip Tillage, 2004 Conventional Tillage, 2004 Strip Tillage, 2005 Conventional Tillage, 2005 # Pods per Plant

  32. Peanut Yield Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage Yield (lbs / Acre) 2003 2004 2005

  33. 2006 Flowers No Till Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage

  34. 2006 Pegs No Till Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage

  35. 2006 Pods No Till Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage

  36. MytH #5: aflatoxin is increased in conservation tillage peanuts

  37. Aflatoxin Contamination Strip Tillage No Till Conventional Tillage

  38. MytH #6: TSWV is increased in conservation tillage

  39. Tillage Effect: Viral Infection

  40. Tillage Effect X Cultivar Strip Tillage Conventional Tillage • Percent STTSWV reduction: • GA-02C 41% • AP3 62% • GG 45% GA-02C AP3 GG GA-02C AP3 GG

  41. Cultivar X Insecticide Control Temik Thimet+Proline Thimet Compared to control… GA-02C AP3 GG Cultivar

  42. GA-02C Yield vs. Infection Control AP-3 Yield (lbs/Ac) Thimet Georgia Green Temik Percent TSWV Infection

  43. Tillage X Insecticide Control Temik Thimet+Proline Thimet Conventional Tillage Strip Tillage • Percent STTSWV reduction: • Control60% • Proline64% • Temik25% • Thimet 48%

  44. 2005 peanut yield + grade Conservation systems: +583 lbs yield** +5.5% tsmk**

  45. MytH #7: it’s more expensive to use conservation tillage

  46. Average net return4-year summary • How we calculated this value: • Detailed records of all inputs • Budgets specific for every input • 4 years * 3 crops/year * 3 replications

  47. Average net return4-year summary

  48. MytH #8: Conservation tillage promotes digging losses in peanut

  49. Peanut digging loss Dry soil Moist soil

  50. MytH #9: peanut maturity is slower in conservation tillage

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