Phosphorus and Potassium Placement for Corn and Soybeans Managed with No-till and Chisel-Plow Tillage

Compared with tillage, no-till management can change many soil properties and crop yields. Broadcast phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization may be inefficient in no-till because both nutrients accumulate near the soil surface. Banded fertilization could be more effective. A study was initiated in 1994 to compare no-till and chisel plow tillage and fertilizer placement methods for corn-soybean rotations. The study included four trials: P for corn, P for soybeans, K for corn, and K for soybeans. Both crops are grown each year by alternating them between adjacent field areas. The soil is mainly Floyd series, and initially tested Very High in P and High in K. Treatments were applied for both crops, which were planted in 30-in. row spacing. Cornstalks of plots managed with tillage were chisel plowed in the fall and field cultivated in the spring, whereas soybean residue was only field cultivated in the spring.